Wahpeton Fire Department

2007

Wahpeton Fire Department

The Wahpeton Fire Department proudly protects about 12000 people living in an area of approx. 20 square miles. We operate out of 2 stations that protect a primarily residential area. Our department is a public department whose 45 members are on a volunteer status.

The department is pager controlled. The members respond to 2 different stations in the city and man 8 pieces of apparatus. There are no full-time employees on the department. We respond to all types of fires, assist at accident scenes where extrication is needed, and also aid area departments with search and rescue and Haz Mat scenes. Wahpeton is located in the Southeast corner of North Dakota about 25 miles north of the North / South Dakota borders and next to the border of Minnesota. We have several main highways that intersect the area, along with several major industrial and agricultrial manufacturing businesses.

The Wahpeton Fire Department has a proud history. A fire department was one of the first organizations formed when the original plat for the town of Wahpeton was filed on February 13, 1877. But few records exist relating to the original organization.In the early stages of the department, several companies were commanded by one Chief and a Chairman. Each Company had its own Foreman and Assistant Foreman, they acted as Chiefs for each of the Companies.The three Companies serving the city in 1891 included the Reliance Hose Company, Germania Hose Company, and the Mazzeppa Hook and Ladder Company. Each company had between 20 and 25 members.Fire department competitions were common

in the early days with contests staged in all parts of the state. In addition firemen were required to appear in uniform on all occasions calling for a parade. The esprit de corps that produced a company with its own band in 1886 still exists in the Wahpeton Fire Department today. The three fire companies were combined into one department called the Fligelmann Fire Company and then became the Wahpeton Volunteer Fire Department in 1944. A 1921 American LaFrance Pumper was Wahpeton's first motorized fire apparatus. The American LaFrance which was in service until 1952 was fully restored in 1982 and now serves as a showpiece parade pumper.

The Department operates out of two stations that protect a primarily residential area. Originally housed in the old City Hall at 120 4th Street North for many years, a new location for the department at 204 South 5th Street was developed after the city purchased a former implement building in 1967. Department members contributed 5,000 man hours of volunteer labor and $8,000 in cash funds were raised by the department to remodel the building. In December 1972 the city acquired an adjacent lot and a 50x80 addition was constructed to blend with the original building. A new radio communications system was then added. Due to the railroad tracks that divide the city, a Station #2 at 4th Street & 2nd Avenue North was added. Then in 1999 due to the growth of the city and relocation of City Hall at 1900 North 4th Street, Station #3 was then added. Station #2 was closed in the early part of 2002 due to restructering. On July 7, 2005 the department moved into a brand new station at the corner of 11th St and 16th Ave North and closed the one at city hall.

The Department has an active training program with fire schools held usually on the second Tuesday of each month. They are often are conducted outside the fire hall involving real or simulated fire conditions and guest training instructors are sometimes invited at the monthly meetings.

As of March 2007, the Wahpeton Volunteer Fire Department has acheived an ISO Rating of 4.

April 2008, the Wahpeton Volunteer Fire Department has been HEAVY RESCUE certified.

• Heavy Rescue

• Search & Rescue
• Other Technical/Specialized Rescue
• Support to other area departments