Bancroft Community Volunteer Fire Department

10/10/2026

🚨 HARVEST SEASON IS HERE — SLOW DOWN, STAY ALERT, AND HELP PREVENT A TRAGEDY! 🚜
Harvest season is in full swing, bringing more farm equipment to our roads, reduced visibility from harvest dust, and increased fire danger from high winds and dry conditions.
⚠️ WATCH FOR THESE HAZARDS:
Low visibility: Harvest dust can make it difficult to see what's ahead.
Large, slow-moving equipment: Tractors, combines, and grain carts may take up more than one lane.
Unexpected turns: Farm equipment may turn into or out of fields and driveways with little warning.
High fire danger: Strong winds and dry vegetation can cause fires to spread rapidly.
🚜 Slow down, give farm equipment plenty of room, and never pass unless it’s safe. Use caution with anything that could spark a fire.
Let’s look out for our farmers, our families, and our community. A little extra caution goes a long way in getting everyone home safely.
— Bancroft Community Fire Department

09/23/2026

The pumpkins have been harvested—four trailers full, parked west of the Fire Department. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Free will donation all proceeds help us with upcomingexpenses!

09/21/2026

Yes, we will have pumpkins this year!! The weather has thrown us a few curveballs, but hopefully we will have them picked and available at the fire station later this week. Watch our page, we will let you know when they are available!!

08/18/2026

08/12/2026

Let’s help out our neighboring departments! Having a good relationship with the departments around us isn’t just a good thing—it’s important.
You never know where you’ll be or what you’ll be doing when the call comes in. Having the ability to call on for help at a scene is a huge advantage that we all rely on.
So, show your support for a fire department near you. It may not be the town you live in, but there’s a good chance that when help is needed, we’ll all be willing to show up.

08/08/2026

⛳️ Just over a week to go!

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at the 4th Annual Heart of the Border Golf Tournament on Saturday, August 8th at North Kossuth Golf Club

Whether you’re golfing, bidding in the silent auction, joining us for the free will donation meal, or coming for the live auction. We’d love to have you there as we rally around Lyla Beadle and her family.

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post!

07/16/2026

Throwback Thursday!
April 7, 1987
"A Bancroft grain warehouse caught fire early Tuesday and was destroyed, but no injuries were reported. Fire departments from seven communities fought the blaze at the Lone Rock Co-Op Exchange Elevator, said Sheriff's Deputy Jim Smith. The bean oil-fed fire continued burning into the evening hours authorities said. "We'll be here all night and then some," said Bancroft Fire Chief Ed Schiltz.

Lost in the blaze was a 70-foot high wooden elevator, an adjacent storage building, a feed mill, and a dryer. The cause of the fire is unknown. The elevator contained about 160,000 bushels of grain and authorities said they hoped to save nearly 80% of it."

The elevator was located just south of where Car-Go Express is located today.

07/14/2026

🎉Raffle Winners Announced! 🎉

On the 4th of July, we held the drawing for our 250th Anniversary Edition AR and Beretta 12-gauge raffle.

Congratulations to our winners!

🏆 Jeremy Ostander of Grafton, Iowa was the first name drawn and earned the first choice. He proudly selected the 250th Anniversary Edition AR.

🏆 Trevor Amy of Ledyard, Iowa was the second name drawn and was thrilled to take home the Beretta 12-gauge.

We would like to thank everyone who participated and to those who have supported our department.

07/09/2026

Resilience. Commitment. Drive. Never Quit.

These aren't just words—they're the foundation of the fire service.

If you were out Monday evening, you may have noticed a group of firefighters crawling around the playground. While it may have looked like grown men reliving their childhood, every obstacle, every crawl, and every challenge had a purpose.

Emergencies don't happen in perfect conditions. The fireground is unpredictable, chaotic, and unforgiving. When visibility is gone, conditions change in an instant, and every second counts, there is no time to wonder what to do. That's why we train the way we do.

Led by our in-house Training Officer, Brody Vaske, firefighters were pushed through scenarios designed to prepare them for the possibility of that happening.

One of the challenges were for the crew to navigate uneven obstacles while following a charged hoseline in complete darkness. With no visibility, they relied only on their sense of touch, their training, and the ability to build a mental picture of their surroundings—all while wearing full protective gear.

Another was focused on firefighter survival and self-rescue. Brody demonstrated that even when trapped by what appears to be an impossible obstacle, there is still a way out. Using proper techniques, he successfully pushed and pulled his way through a 16" × 16" opening, proving that determination, training, and staying calm can make all the difference.