Winsted
Every year, members of the Winsted Fire Department gather and pay tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The Winsted Volunteer Fire Department was formed
Dec. 3, 1889. The department’s first truck, a chain-driven
Oshkosh, arrived in 1927.
In 1944, 33 feet of property was purchased for the
construction of Winsted’s first fire station.
Over the years that followed, the bell was replaced
by a siren and then by pagers, ambulance service was
provided, fire trucks came and went, but one thing has
stayed the same – the dedication and devotion of the
volunteers who make up the volunteer fire department.
The Winsted Volunteer Fire Department serves the city
of Winsted, along with Hollywood, Victor, Winsted, and
Woodland townships.
In 2019, the department responded to 240 calls. The total
number of calls was 242 in 2018, 255 in 2017, 263 in 2016, 294
in 2015, and 230 in 2014.
The department had 240 calls through the coverage
area in 2019. Most calls – 187, were for medicals – and
53 calls were for fires, car accidents, carbon monoxide
incidents, and other emergencies. In addition to providing
general fire suppression services, the Winsted Volunteer Fire
Department also provides fire cause determination, fire
prevention services, cold water rescue, auto extrication,
Troy Scherping (Chief)
Jon Davidson (Asst. Chief 1)
Todd Koch (Asst. Chief 2)
Ryan Chatterton (Captain 1)
Kyle Thompson (Captain 2)
Jake Hertzog (Captain 3)
Aaron Millerbernd (Secretary)
Mike Laxen
hazardous materials response, Skywarn spotters, fire and
medical coverage at Winstock, and hosts a spaghetti
dinner the Thursday before Winstock and the annual
firemen’s pancake breakfast the Sunday morning of the
Winsted Summer Festival in August.
The Winsted Fire Department also operates a first-
responder service, responding to all medical emergencies
within its coverage area. The department operates with
state-cer tified emergency medical technicians, and
certified first responders.
The fire department continues to utilize state grant
funding for training classes. Some of those trainings consist
of yearly mandator y Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) classes. Other classes include auto
extrication, pump operators course, search and rescue,
SCBA Air Management and the Firefighter Survivability
Prop.
At the beginning of 2020, there were 24 members
on the department roster. A full roster would have 30
members. The fire department welcomes applicants. No
previous experience is required. All training and equipment
is provided. Applications are available on the City of
Winsted’s website, or at Winsted City Hall.
Jim Koch
Dale Gatz
Brian Langenfeld
Chad Stender
Rose Heimerl
Jamie Stender
Justin Hertzog
Sam Condon
Bryan Schaust
Matt Marketon
Jason Zhang
Brandon Posch
Michael Vanderlinde
Tyler Nelson
Kaylin Hare
Marc Cathey