When the Marthasville Fire Protection District responds to its next call, it will be doing so with a new set of gas monitors. The district was recently awarded an Operation Round Up (ORU) grant totaling $1,998 to go toward the purchase of two gas monitors. The monitors test for carbon monoxide, oxygen, hydrogen sulfide and various flammable gases.

The grant was necessary, Fire Chief Sean Johnson said, because the district’s current monitors were aging and costing upward of $200 to replace a sensor on each one. “As they get older, we worry about their integrity,” Johnson remarked.

The monitors also come in handy when the volunteer-based agency assists neighboring departments, such as Warrenton, Wright City, Washington, Augusta or New Melle, on mutual aid calls.

Like many industries, inflation has caused equipment and other expenses to increase significantly in recent years for the district. For instance, Johnson noted the gas monitors jumped in price after submitting the ORU grant application.
“It’s a common trend today,” Johnson said. “We’ll make up the difference through fundraisers and other ways.” For more information, visit facebook.com/marthasvillefire.

Operation Round Up funds are donated by Cuivre River Electric members, who participate in the program by rounding up their electric bill payments each month to the next highest dollar. The funds, administered by a seven-member volunteer board, are available to help individuals, families and organizations.

For more information, contact Tim Schmidt, Operation Round Up coordinator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 636-695-4837. Applications can be downloaded at cuivre.com/operationroundup.

Cuivre River Electric Cooperative is the largest member-owned electric distribution cooperative in Missouri. It provides service to more than 70,000 residential, business, commercial, industrial and agricultural members in Lincoln, Pike, St. Charles, Warren and Montgomery counties.

The Marthasville Fire Protection District was recently presented with a $1,998 Operation Round Up grant
to purchase two gas monitors. Pictured above, from left, Olivia Korte, Cristenee Smith, Marthasville Fire
Board member Bob Koch, Marthasville Fire board member and retired Fire Chief Jim Buescher,
Fire Chief Sean Johnson, Cuivre River Electric Community Trust Board members John Nordwald,
Kyle Shell, Lisa Dunham and Tammy Miller.