The Fire Chief’s Blog

Our newly acquired Crash Truck, Crash 11, has been getting a good workout with our group of designated fire department trainers. Earlier this week the training group worked with staff from the Minneapolis Airport Fire Department to determine the best approaches to potential aircraft crash sites at Flying Cloud Airport.

This kind of pre-plan work is essential to a coordinated response in the event of an incident at our airport. The staff from the Minneapolis Airport Fire Department has been a great help as we learn the full capabilities of this newly acquired vehicle.

Pictured below is a picture of Crash 11 in action in a bail out area at the end of one of the runways. The fire control abilities of the truck are amazing! The foam discharge puts out 750 gallons per minute, that equates to a lot of fire extinguishing power!

Last Monday, September 11th our Police and Fire Departments took part in a ceremony honoring those police officers and firefighters that gave their lives on that tragic day in history. The ceremony was put on by Summit Place, an assisted living facility located in our city. Summit Place is a prime example of the kinds of involved businesses we have in our city.

It is an honor and quite humbling to be publicly acknowledged in this way.

Pictured are Assistant Fire Chief Steve Koering, Michelle Hubbard representing Summit Place and Police Chief Dan Carlson.

Tonight is a Quarterly Business Meeting for the Fire Department this meeting will include badge pinning ceremonies for last year’s recruits as they leave their probationary status and become “full” members of the organization. In addition there will be a badge pinning ceremony for those firefighters that were recently promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Last but not least we will be honoring those members that have achieved another five year increment of service, these firefighters are given a star for their uniform for each 5 years served.

The past year’s recruits achieving full member status are: Charles Adelmann, Rik Berkbigler, Thor Carlson, Charles Eide, Jeff Herrig, Don Jensen, Greg Kinzel, Tony Laursen, Keith Puchalski, Phil Skeie and Tamara Zahler.

Our six newest Lieutenants are: Jeremy Hoehn, Jess Irmiter, Becki White, Jeremy Van Beusekom, Scott Tonjes and Patrick Maynard.

Those receiving service stars are: Eric Meiners, Rick Thompson and John Wolfgram will be receiving a 5 year star. Bob Greeninger and Duane Harrison will be receiving 3 stars for their 15 years of service.

Of course at the end of the meeting there will be enough cake, ice cream and coffee to satisfy everybody involved.