South Boundary Fire hosts fundraiser
Photo by Mandi Bateman South Boundary Firefighter Wesley Portrey has been with the department for more than 20 years and has not lost his enthusiasm as he served breakfast for all.
Photo by Mandi Bateman The Bouncy House outside of the Naples fire station kept the kids happy despite the occasional rain.
Photo by Mandi Bateman The room was filled with Silent Auction items that were donated to benefit South Boundary Fire, instigating some bidding wars.
Photo by Mandi Bateman A wide variety of donated items helped raise over $4000 for the fire department.
Photo by Mandi Bateman South Boundary Fire vehicles watched over the Pancake Breakfast and silent auction.
BONNERS FERRY — On the morning of Oct. 7, South Boundary Fire Protection District served up a free breakfast in conjunction with a silent auction to help fund an expansion project at the Naples Fire Station.
“If you leave hungry, it’s not my fault,” said South Boundary Firefighter Wesley Portrey as he helped to dish out pancakes, scrambled eggs, link sausages and ham. Although visitors entered through the silent auction room, they were enthusiastically invited and ushered to the dining area, encouraged to dine.
More than 100 people attended, bidding on the wide array of silent auction items that filled the room, from tables to window sills, and even two large turkeys and a rabbit outside. Children played happily in the bouncy house set up on the lawn while the adults chatted happily, engaging in friendly bidding wars.
There was a sense of comfort and familiarity in the station, as firefighters mingled and joked with those that came to show their support. Over the years, it is the community’s support, as well as the hard work and dedication of South Boundary Fire Chief Tony Rohrwasser and his team, that has allowed South Boundary Fire to grow.
In 1995, the Naples Volunteer Firemen’s Association was a small, grass roots type organization. In spring of that year, changes were set into place and Wayne Wilkerson was appointed Chief, with Mike Richardson appointed Assistant Chief.
“Wayne and Mike worked hard to create a team and beg for items needed to run a Fire Department,” said Rohrwasser. “I was promoted to Captain and Scott Peterson to Lieutenant. Under Wayne’s command we trained and worked until we hit a plateau and decided the next step in advancing Fire Protection would be to look into forming a district where a budget could be created and we could improve our services.”
They originally worked with Paradise Valley Fire to try and create South Boundary, a combination of Paradise Valley and Naples. According to Rohrwasser, Paradise Valley decided they were not ready at the time and they presented the idea to the Naples community through a few public meetings. The initial results were not promising, as the idea of taxation seemed to anger the community. They persisted, holding more meetings, answering the community’s questions regarding costs versus services.
“In late 2003, the idea passed with 76 percent in favor. In 2004 we created South Boundary Fire Protection District and the members of the Naples Firemen’s Association voted to give all of their assets to the new District and terminate the old,” explained Rohrwasser.
When Wilkerson stepped down as Chief due to a full time job and young family, Rohrwasser applied for the position and became the new Chief, which was at the time a 10 hour position.
“We started working hard on grants, and within a year, the Fire Commissioners added another 10 hours to the position,” said Rohrwasser, “This followed each year due to the grants and equipment received until it was full time with the ability to volunteer evenings and weekends.”
Rohrwasser dedicated himself to the new South Boundary, writing and applying for grants to improve the district, enabling them to have the equipment necessary to keep the community safe.
“To date we have received well over $2 million in grants for things such as trucks, fire station, communications, tools etc.” said Rohrwasser. “We have also received funds for our training program and incentives to the volunteers.”
At the free breakfast, Portrey, who has been with the South Boundary since its infancy stages, remembered the transition from the first fire engine until now. “We’ve done a lot with what we have... in the last 20 years,” he said, laughing as he explained the individual quirks of all the original equipment.
The fundraiser on October 7 will further the improvements. They hope to build a two story building at the Naples Fire Station that will host a community room complete with a kitchen, two bathrooms, storage space, and an area for the Food Bank with a separate entrance.
“The second floor we will leave unfinished initially, to eventually house administrative offices, and residence quarters,” explained Rohrwasser. “Once the main floor is completed, we will open up the existing community room space in existing fire station and turn it back into two truck bays, as it was originally.”
Once the top floor is completed in the new building, the existing station will house the trucks, parts, and storage, leaving business to be handled completely in the new building.
The extensive variety and quality of the donated items in the silent auction, combined with the generosity of the bidders, was a success. There was a lively crowd as the winning bidders were being announced, which added to the fun as everyone clapped and cheered.
The combination of the silent auction, and a large donation made by a fundraising effort by Northwoods Tavern, resulted in South Boundary being approximately $4000 closer to their goal.
“A big thanks to those who helped, donated to the auction, and the community for coming and showing support,” said Rohrwasser.
“We try to follow our mission statement in everything we do,” said Rohrwasser. “Our Mission: To protect Life and Property in our community from fire and other disasters. To assist our neighboring communities. To continually prepare for these situations through ongoing training and prevention efforts.”