Delano FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Delano Fire Department responded to 535 calls in 2019. It
responds to calls in Delano and contracted areas within Franklin
Township, Rockford Township, and the City of Independence,
and will routinely lend aid to departments from surrounding
communities.
In 2019 Delano provided mutual aid for local fi re depart-
ments 8 times and received mutual aid 4 times. In June of 2018,
Delano and Watertown Fire entered into an agreement to pro-
vide Auto Aid. This means that when ever there is a structure fi re
in Watertown’s or Delano’s Fire Districts the other department
automatically responds without an additional page. Delano
provided Auto Aid 3 times and received Auto Aid 4 times in
2019. Delano Fire is also now receiving Fire Rescue and Emer-
gency pages directly from the 911 system for Hennepin County
for any call within the Delano Fire District that is located in Hen-
nepin County’s 911 call system. This reduces any delays in Hen-
nepin needed to transfer the emergency call to Wright county
before dispatching Delano Fire and Rescue.
Delano Fire Department’s fl eet includes three engines, two
tankers, a light-rescue truck, a utility truck, a command vehi-
cle, a 1-ton grass truck, and an ATV, which is also used for grass
fi res.
Dedication and courage
The Delano Fire Department has been serving the communi-
ty for more than 100 years. Its offi cial creation was in 1896, when
the Delano Village Council decided it needed to organize an
offi cial fi re department.
The organization has continued to grow, and members are
on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
For more information, call 763-972-0581. In an emergency,
dial 911.
How to become a Delano fi refi ghter
In order to become a fi refi ghter, a person has to go through
extensive training, including more than 100 hours of fi refi ghting
training, as well as a minimum of 40 hours of fi rst responders
training.
New fi refi ghters begin with an 18-month probationary period
to complete the required training. They attend classes twice a
week, to learn about the various equipment, procedures, and
skills they will need to become a competent fi refi ghter.
Along with the classes, the trainees also can go on calls with
the department, to get some experience in the fi eld.
Once one becomes a fi refi ghter for the Delano Fire Depart-
ment, the training does not stop. The members of the depart-
ment are required to have a minimum of 24 hours of fi refi ght-
ing level one training, along with eight hours of fi rst responders
training each year.
The department trains year-round, perfecting skills, as well
as learning new skills and technology. The training allows the
fi refi ghters to not only protect the community better, but also
Chief: Bob Van Lith | Assistant Chief: Willie Staunton
Captains:
Dale Kimball, Mike Mellgren, Matt Van Lith
Firefi ghters:
Dan Alger
Brian Anderson
Leif Borg
Mike Ditty
Jason Dreger
Kaleb Fish
Mike Frach
Luke
Gardner
(Military leave)
Emily Grinnell
Tom Hamm
Brett Hennen
Mike Jensen
Ryan Lazenby (On
leave)
Kenji Matsuda
Jim Rassatt
Luke Rassatt
Charlie Riley
Jeff Shrode
Josh Streich
Nick Werder
John Wick
Jerry Wunderlich
For more information about the fi re department,
call 763-972-0581. In an emergency, dial 911.
to protect themselves. Their training includes such things as live
burns, leadership, maintaining virus outbreaks, and working
with vehicle extrication.
The department has a regular meeting each quarter, as well
as training at 7 p.m. the third and fourth Thursday of the month
and the second Thursday of each month that it does not have
a quarterly meeting.
Citizen Emergency Response Team (CERT)
Delano’s Citizen Emergency Response Team is a volunteer
organization that assists the fi re department when needed.
The group promotes readiness in the community in case of a
natural disaster.
Participants in the CERT team range from people in their
mid-20s to age 80.
Delano’s active team has had a meaningful impact on the
community.
To learn more about the program, e-mail corps@delano.
mn.us, or call 763-972-0581.
More information is also available at www.citizencorps.gov/
cert/about.shtml.
C E L E B R AT I N G
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