Winsted Fire Department
The Winsted Volunteer Fire Department was formed Dec . 3 , 1889 . The department ’ s fi rst truck , a chain-driven Oshkosh , arrived in 1927 .
In 1944 , 33 feet of property was purchased for the construction of Winsted ’ s fi rst fi re station .
Over the years that followed , the bell was replaced by a siren and then by pagers , ambulance service was provided , fi re trucks came and went , but one thing has stayed the same – the dedication and devotion of the volunteers who make up the volunteer fi re 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 fi res , car accidents , carbon monoxide incidents , and other emergencies .
As of mid-December 2020 , the department had responded to 234 calls : 195 medical , and 30 other during the year . In addition to providing general fi re suppression services , the Winsted Volunteer Fire Department also provides fi re cause determination , fi re prevention services , cold water rescue , auto extrication , hazardous materials response , Skywarn spotters , fi re and medical coverage at Winstock , and hosts a spaghetti dinner the Thursday before Winstock and the annual fi remen ’ s pancake breakfast the Sunday morning of the Winsted Summer Festival in August .
The Winsted Fire Department also operates a fi rst-responder service , responding to all medical emergencies within its coverage area . The department operates with state-certifi ed emergency medical technicians , and certifi ed fi rst responders .
The fi re department continues to utilize state grant funding for training classes . Some of those trainings consist of yearly mandatory Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA ) classes . Other classes include auto extrication , pump operators course , search and rescue , SCBA Air Management and the Firefi ghter Survivability Prop .
At the beginning of 2020 , there were 24 members on the department roster . A full roster would have 30 members . The fi re 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 .
Winsted fi refi ghters
The 2021 Winsted Fire Department offi cers and members include : 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 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
Every year , members of the Winsted Fire Department gather and pay tribute to the victims of the Sept . 11 , 2001 terrorist attacks .
40