By the Winsted Fire Department

The Winsted Volunteer Fire Department serves the city of Winsted, along with Hollywood, Victor, Winsted, and Woodland townships.

The following is a list of activities that the department was involved in during 2012:

• added one new member to the department;

• helped the local schools with Fire Prevention Week;

• hosted the annual spaghetti dinner and pancake breakfast;

• provided fire protection for Winstock; and

• responded to 253 calls in 2012 (206 medicals, 47 fires/other). The breakdown is as follows:

- City of Winsted: 189 calls (160 medical, 29 fire/other)

- Winsted Township: 42 calls (31 medical, 11 fire/otherr)

- Victor Township: 13 calls (nine medical, four fire/other)

- Hollywood Township: Nine calls (six medical, three fire/other)

- Woodland Township: Zero calls

The Winsted Volunteer Fire Department was formed Dec. 3, 1889. The department’s first truck (chain-driven Oshkosh) arrived in 1927. In 1944, 33 feet of Meulener’s 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 over the years – the dedication and devotion of the volunteers who make up the volunteer fire department.

The fire department operates with a roster of up to 30, all volunteer members. Currently, there are 26 members. They are: Chief Chad Engel, Asst. Chief Brian Langenfeld, Asst. Chief Jon Davidson, Captain Tim Kosek, Captain Brent Mickolichek, Captain Shaun Bush, secretary Justin Hertzog, Mike Laxen, Jim Koch, Dale Gatz, Charlie Fiecke, Tim Purcell, Chad Stender, Mike Thonvold, Gerald Heinen, Rose Heimerl, Jamie Stender, Brady Tormanen, Todd Koch, Mitch Wittmer, Troy Scherping, Wayne Schumann, Matt Williams, Kyle Thompson, Ryan Chatterton, and Michael Rasmussen.

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, hazardous materials response, Skywarn spotters, and Minnesota licensed daycare inspections.

The Winsted Fire Department also operates a first responder service, responding to all medical emergencies within its coverage area. The department operates with state-certified emergency medical technicians, and certified first responders. With an average annual call volume of just over 250 calls for service, an average of 81 percent of the calls are for medical emergencies.