Despite the downpour of rain on Saturday, April 10, the Kalona Volunteer Firemen had a tremendous turnout with 2,363 carryout meals served during their Pancake Day fundraiser.

“It was a great success,” commented Fire chief Jerry Zahradnek. “The community support as tremendous. We sold out of everything including the sausage patties.”

Chief Zahradnek said the firemen served 1,440 lbs. of link sausage, cracked 7,000 eggs, cooked 8,000 pancakes to serve the patient donors who sometimes stood in line for up to an hour or more to get their carryout breakfast.

“Everyone was very generous in their donations with the average donation being $12,” Chief Zahradnek said. “We want to thank all the people and businesses who donated and volunteered.”

Firemen had erected a tent to protect people from the rain and cold just outside the fire station. Inside there was a double line the length of the fire station. Firemen had it well organized. 

“Next year we hope to be serving people at tables as well as having carryout meals,” he added.

Proceeds from pancake day will go to replace turnout gear, the coat and pants the firefighters wear, which have to be replaced about every seven to 10 years.

Pancake day was also be an opportunity for the department to showcase its newest truck, a 2020 Ford grass fire truck that was purchased right before the pandemic hit last spring. The truck is unique because it can spray water while moving and has a remote-control nozzle on the front bumper “so we can actually drive through cornfields and put out fires while still being in the truck,” Zahradnek said.

The new truck will replace the department’s 1970 Chevrolet C60, 1,000-gallon tanker, which the department is currently auctioning off to a member of the community.

“The truck runs very well. The tank did have a leak but we had it patched and as of right now it doesn’t leak,” Zahradnek said. “It’s time to retire it and as a fire department we don’t have a place to maintain an antique, 50-year-old firetruck so we’re going to allow somebody in the community to own it.”

More information about the truck is available on the department’s Facebook page. Bids and questions can be sent to KalonaTanker9@gmail.com.