ST PAUL PARK, Minn. — Washington County Sheriff's Sergeant Bill Harrell, like most officers of his rank, has received training in many areas important to a first responder.
Firefighting... is not one of them.
And yet Harrell's actions while responding to a house fire in St. Paul Park on February 19 saved the lives of two beloved family pets, and possibly kept the home from becoming a total loss. Upon arrival at the burning structure, he deployed a first-of-its-kind fire suppression device he had learned how to use just days before.
The device is called a Fire Suppression Tool (FST), a compact device that first responders can carry in their vehicles and deploy on a moment's notice. Simply pull two pins, toss the FST inside the burning structure, and it releases non-toxic aerosols into the air to knock down a fire up to 5,300 square feet in volume (think an average two-stall garage). The manufacturer, Fire Suppression Solutions Inc., says deploying the device can decrease the temperature of a fire by about 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit in less than a minute.
It sure worked on Linn and Mark Gisselquist's home. Linn and her daughter were at the dentist and Mark was at work, which is close to home. He was cleaning some carpets, looked out and saw the house was on fire, and then called 911. Sergeant Harrell, who had just been trained on the FST the Friday before, arrived before fire crews and put his knowledge to work.
"For us, it was the right timing, the right fire, our Sergeant Bill Harrell go down to the scene, it basically suppressed the fire enough for the fire department to come in and do what they needed to do," remarked Washington County Sheriff Dan Starry.
St. Paul Park Fire Chief Mike Kramer said deployment of the FST bought enough time to get engines set up and start an offensive attack of the fire. His firefighters soon located the dogs - Coda, a golden lab who serves as an emotional support animal for the Gisselquist's daughter, and a Goldendoodle they were dogsitting named Cooper - in the basement of the home and led them out under the dogs' own power.
"Because of that device, I think those dogs are here today," shared Lin Gisselquist. "If it wouldn't have been for that, I don't know."
The dogs were quickly taken to an area vet, where they were given hyperbaric treatment and given IV fluids.
Gisselquist thanked Deputy Harrell, firefighters and first responders from multiple local departments and the Masonic Lodge for making the device available.
The FSTs are being put to use in Washington County thanks to St. John's Masonic Lodge, who are donating the funds to purchase them at $1,000 apiece. The Feb. 19 fire is believed to be the first time an FST was deployed in the state of Minnesota.
Anyone who would like to help the Gisselquists cover the costs of damage from the fire and vet care for the dogs can donate at the City-County Credit Union in Woodbury.
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