Posted at: 09/08/2009 7:01 PM
By: Mary Taing

Mission Accomplished for Local Fire Unit

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- Members of the volunteer fire department in Floyd, Iowa are on a mission to raise $25,000 for life-saving equipment.

They're doing that by pledging to stand outdoors 24 hours a day, until they make their goal.

Jeff Schwartzkopf has been sitting here for a total of 48 hours.

Sitting, and waiting for drivers to drop some money into this boot.

"We do have sporadic times where it's busy and you have slow times," says Schwartzkopf.

Kevin Stewart has also stood at this donation post waiting for a drop.

In fact, he just finished an overnight shift.

"It got down to about high 30's, low 40's couple nights, just throw my bunker gear on, walk around," says Stewart.

There's been at least one person manning the post day and night, in the heat and cold.

All so they can be able to buy a "Jaws of Life" prying tool used to extricate victims trapped in their cars.

"It'll cut off a post, a windshield post, pry open a door, it'll even lift up a dash," says fire chief Ben Chatfield.

The number of car accidents in and around Floyd has jumped this year.

Volunteer firefighters needed to borrow the "Jaws of Life" tool from nearby cities at least 25 times.

Sometimes, it takes as long as 45 minutes to for it to get to them, putting many lives at risk.

"The patient outcome could be more severe," says Chatfield.

So these guys are playing the waiting game, and it looks like the wait is paying off.

As of 1 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, drivers from all across the country have donated more than $23,000 at the corner near Hwy 218 and County Road 27.

"It's been great, and they enjoy donating for something that's going to help save lives," says Schwartzkopf.

After all, it could be their own life that they're saving.

We've just learned, all that hard work has paid off; they finished raising all $25,000 just a few hours ago.