By the Winsted Fire Department

The Winsted Volunteer Fire Department serves the City of Winsted, along with Winsted, Hollywood, Victor, and Woodland townships.
The following is a list of activities that the department was involved in during 2007:

• added seven new members to the department, bringing the fire department to a full roster.
• placed a dry hydrant in Lake Ida.
• annual spaghetti dinner and pancake breakfast.
• fireman’s dance with Lester Prairie.
• provided fire protection for Winstock and Higher Ground
• responded to 156 calls in 2007 (124 medicals, 32 fires/other).

The Winsted Vounteer Fire Departent 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.

Currently, the Fire Department operates with a roster of 30, all volunteers. They are: Ken Fitchwell, Paul Herbolsheimer, Ladder Capt. Shaun Bush, Steve Bahr, Dave Gailey, Tim Purcell, Scott Zubrod, Jon Davidson, Gerald Heinen Jamie Stender, Brady Tormenen, Cody Krause, Secretary Troy Fleischacker, Todd Koch, Troy Scherping, Justin Hertzog, Mitch Wittmer, Mike Laxen, Brian Langenfeld, Rose Heimerl, Dale Gatz, Tim Kosek, 1st Asst. Chief Chad Stender, 2nd Asst. Chief Charlie Fiecke, 2nd Capt. Brent Mickolichek, Jim Condon, 1st Capt. Mike Thonvold, Jerry Koch, Jim Koch, and Chief Chad Engel.

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 MN licensed daycare inspections.

The Winsted Fire Department also operates a First Responder service, responding to all medical emergencies within our coverage area. The department operates with state certified Emegency Medical Technicians, and certified First Responders. With an average annual call volume of just over 150 calls for service, an average of 66 percent of these calls are for medical emergencies.

In the year 2007, three members achieved 20 years of service (Ken Fitchwell, Dale Gatz, and Paul Herbolsheimer), three members achieved 10 years of service (Chad Engel, Tim Kosek, and Scott Zubrod) and three members achieved five years of service (Jon Davidson, Gerald Heinen, and Mike Thonvold).