Real-World Cases: How Volunteer Firefighters Use LANCO Shelters

MARKO KONTTINEN – VETERAN VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER AND LONG-TIME LANCO CUSTOMER

For over four decades, Marko Konttinen has dedicated his life to serving his community as a volunteer firefighter, balancing this demanding hobby with his full-time job. Marko’s involvement with firefighting began at a remarkably young age. “I joined the Freiwillige Feuerwehr (FFW) in Hämeenlinna when I was 10 years old,” he recalls. “That was back in 1981, and I've been volunteering ever since.” Now, with over 43 years of experience under his belt, Marko’s dedication to the firefighting service is truly inspiring.

His story is one of unwavering commitment, both to his fellow firefighters and to the tools that help them perform their vital work, including the LANCO professional shelters that have become an essential part of his firefighting journey.

DISCOVERING LANCO SHELTERS: A GAME-CHANGER

Marko first encountered LANCO shelters in 1994, during a fire brigade camp in Wolfshagen im Harz, close to Hannover. The camp was a protected area where only fire brigades were allowed to stay, and it was here that Marko discovered how LANCO’s professional shelters are the go-to solution for his fire brigade’s needs. “We were used to small, military-style camping tents in Finland, where you had to crawl inside. But in Germany, I saw the bigger shelters, and I knew we needed something like that.” By 1996, Marko and his fellow firefighters in Hämeenlinna decided to upgrade their equipment, purchasing the LANCO double-fly shelter DV 405 – a seven-meter-long shelter, known for its durability and accessibility.

Thirty years ago, ordering a shelter was a cumbersome process. “Back then, everything had to be done through postal mail – offers, orders, or even organizing transportation. It was a process that could take a couple of months,” Marko explains.

Over the past 28 years, the shelter has stood the test of time, requiring minimal changes and consistently delivering the performance they expected. “Even after all these years, it looks the same and it’s still a reliable product,” Marko notes. These robust aluminum frame shelters have been primarily used for sleeping and play a crucial role in the efficiency of the fire brigade.

Marko’s loyalty to the LANCO brand didn’t stop with his first purchase. Over the years, he has become an advocate for our LANCO shelters, inspiring other fire brigades to invest in them and offering consultation on product features.

Following a forest fire in 2017, when the team faced a two-hour drive to and from the fire scene, Marko purchases two more LANCO shelters for the FFW he currently volunteers at, in Ylöjärvi. “Those two hours we spent driving could have been spent sleeping,” he says. “That’s why we decided to buy two more DV LANCO shelters – to ensure our team could be ready for action when needed and replace driving time with sleeping time. The last purchase was much easier than the one in 1996,” Marko explains. “In 2018, it was all streamlined, and the shelters have proven just as reliable as the first one.”

As Marko has shown over the years, having the right tools can make all the difference in being ready when duty calls.