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The following appeared in the North Idaho Local section of The Coeur d’Alene Press, December 22, 2004.
Big fans heading to help Iraq
By JERRY MANTER
Staff writer
Copyright 2004 Coeur d’Alene Press
[Hauser]* family owns company, serves as volunteer firefighters
HAUSER -- Not too many people can say they have a job description like members of the Neils family.
One second they’ll be on the assembly line constructing powerful fans, and the next they could be saving someone’s life. But for them, it’s just an average day around the shop.
"We’re the fire department, but we also sell to the fire department,” said James Neils, vice president of J. Neils Enterprises.
The business, which consists of John, James and Joan Neils, Jim Flesher and Larry Simms, designs powerful fans for emergency personnel throughout the United States. Ventry fans can deliver more than 29,000 cubic feet of air per minute.
"It can clear a house full of smoke in under a minute,” John said.
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Photo by Jerry Manter, Press Caption: Jim Flesher of J. Neils Enterprises assembles a Ventry Fan. J. Neils Enterprises of Hauser is shipping dozens of the powerful fans to Iraq. |
As volunteer members of the Hauser Fire Department, they’re always ready to drop the tools and go out on a call when needed.
"We typically get about two calls a week,” James said.
The family has built the fans for about 15 years, which feature Honda engines and an aircraft-type propeller. These fans, however, are nothing similar to a ceiling or desk fan. They typically cost about $1,000.
"These fans are a big safety feature for police and fire departments,” John said.
Fire departments can use the fans to blow smoke out of houses, and commercial companies use the fans to dry materials.
Joan said the family takes several unique steps to build the patented fans, but wasn’t willing to share the family secret.
"We build our fans by hand one by one,” Joan said.
The family has sold about 2,300 fans around the country, but they’re slowly gaining interest around the world.
"Our next order is really unique,” she said.
The fans could eventually help United States soldiers and military personnel in the reconstruction stages of Iraq. A distributor in Florida ordered about 90 of the fans and will then ship them overseas. The Neils are told the fans will help Iraq fire departments.
"We know these fans will help them out,” John said.
For information about Ventry fans: www.ventry.com.
*The Press misprinted “Hayden” in the original article.
