The Hortonville-Hortonia Fire District has been busy training with a new life saving piece of equipment.

The Department recently purchased an Advanced Mavic II Enterprise Drone system.

Assistant Fire Chief Jack Kuhnke said the drone will be used in a number of firefighting and rescue operations.

The drone is equipped with an advanced thermal imaging camera and 48 MP visual cameras.

It also has the capability to record footage for later use in training.

“The drone will help give us another view at structural fires and in search and rescue situations,” said Kuhnke.

He said members of the department are training with the Grand Chute Fire Department to receive their drone certifications.

Kuhnke said the department purchased the drone with community donations and proceeds from the department’s annual softball tournament.

The 15th annual Volunteer Fireman/EMS softball tournament is slated for July 29-30 at Otto Miller Park.

“We’d like to share a special thank you to all the teams and donors over the past 14 years,” said Kuhnke.

This year’s lineup of teams already includes local favorites, Greenville, New London, Marion, Dale, Ellington, Center, Freedom, and Little Chute. Teams from Kenosha, Kimberly, Glenbulah, and Grant are also signed up to play again this year.

“Last year we raised enough money to buy an extractor wash machine,” said Kuhnke.

Heavy duty extractor wash machines are designed to clean turnout gear and remove all of the chemicals gear is exposed to during fires.

“We’d like to thank all of the donors large and small who donated last year,” said Kuhnke. “Without them we could not have purchased the extractor and drone.”

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