07.16.08

West Metro Fire-Rescue District Celebrates its Ten Year Anniversary.

 “Ten years of Neighbors Serving Neighbors”

West Metro Fire-Rescue District officially began operations on July 6, 1998 after more than six years of study, discussions, consultant’s reports and special legislation, and proudly delivers premier Fire, EMS, technical rescue services to the Communities of Crystal and New Hope.

In honor of the occasion the District held a Ten Year Anniversary Celebration and Fire Service Technologies Show on July 16, 2008 at fire station#3. Attendees included members of our neighboring Police, Fire and EMS partner agencies as well as our board of directors and city council members, more than 500 people attended the event.

The goal of the event was to celebrate the successes of the organization of the past ten year as well as to provide attendees with a trade show experience showcasing new Fire, Police and EMS Service technologies and products and educational opportunities. In all 34 vendors displayed the latest in loose goods and hardware, 26 Fire, Police, EMS and Military vehicles were on display.

The event also included a long standing fire service tradition by hosting a water-ball competition event. The event provided participants an opportunity to show-off their nozzle, hose line and teamwork skills in a friendly, “wet” competition.

Our Firehouse Chiefs served attendees a fantastic Firehouse barbeque meal.

About West Metro Fire-Rescue District:
West Metro Fire-Rescue District provides fire services to the communities of Crystal and New Hope through a joint powers agreement. Organized July 6, 1998 after over six years of study, discussions, consultant’s reports and special legislation, the District provides an efficient delivery system eliminating duplication while reducing and stabilizing future budget costs. A board of directors appointed by each City Council governs the Fire District.

 West Metro Fire-Rescue District is committed to providing quality fire and safety services and security to the people, businesses and the environment within the district in an efficient and cost effective manner. We pledge to respond in a timely manner, provide competent well-trained personnel, treat our customers with respect and provide a sense of value for our service. West Metro Fire-Rescue District provides emergency response to fire situations, specialized rescue and emergency medical support. We also provide fire prevention services through constant inspections and public fire safety education across the District.

Click here to view the complete media release

06.12.2008

West Metro Fire-Rescue District publishes its 2007 Annual Report.

Click the image above to access the complete 2007 Annual Report.

06.07.2008

West Metro Fire-Rescue District Live Fire Training at Bass Lake Road Apartments.

With a lot of hard work by many WMFRD firefighters and support from the City of New Hope and the neighborhood we were given one of these opportunities on Saturday, June 7, 2008. Beginning at 9:00 in the morning crews worked throughout the day and into the next morning conducting interior fire operations, demolition of the building and maintaining a fire watch for the safety of the residents.
 

Click here to view the complete media release

05.31.2008

West Metro Fire-Rescue District 2008 Inaugural Employee Awards.

On Saturday May 31, 2008 The West Metro Fire-Rescue District held its Inaugural Awards Banquet. The focus of the evening was the formal recognition of the accomplishments of our employees on behalf of the Communities and Citizens we serve. We also recognized and showed our appreciation to our partners and families for their enduring support of our employees in their work as West Metro Firefighters, and in acknowledgement of the important role our partners play in ensuring we are able to serve those that depend upon us.

Click here to view the complete media release

03.05.2008

West Metro Fire-Rescue District Implements new technology.

In an effort to increase service to the communities we serve West Metro Fire-Rescue District has installed mobile data computers (MDC’s) in each of our apparatus. This new technology will improve responder and resident safety by providing specific information about an incident that includes onsite hazards and real-time updates from our dispatchers to all responding fire apparatus and other public safety agencies.

Additional features of this technology include on-screen incident address mapping, hydrant locations, resource management and messaging. This new technology also aids in reducing voice traffic on the 800MHz radio system and dispatcher workload by allowing responders access to information and management of incident response status via the MDC. Routine business functions can now be managed by the user, further reducing radio traffic and dispatcher workload. In the near future we hope to add the capability of accessing electronic pre-fire plans from the MDC’s, further increasing the response and safety information available to our responders.

The West Metro Fire-Rescue District is dispatched by the Hennepin County Sheriffs Communications Division in Golden Valley. The primary funding for this project was obtained through a federal grant by the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office. The communications and computer aided dispatch infrastructure of this system is owned and maintained by the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.
 

02.04.2008

West Metro Fire-Rescue Welcomes Ten New Paid, On-Call Firefighters to the District.
 

The West Metro Fire-Rescue District is pleased to welcome 10 new paid, on-call firefighters into their membership on February 4, 2008. These firefighters were hired from the more than 60 applications received by the District. Due to the sensitive nature of the public safety services a firefighter provides the West Metro Fire-Rescue District. All new firefighters are required to complete a rigorous hiring process that includes physical ability testing, an interview process, background check, drug, physical and psychological testing.

February 4th was the beginning of two years of formal probationary and apprentice training for these firefighters. When they have completed their training they will be nationally certified to the levels of Firefighter I and II, Hazardous Materials Operational, and Fire Apparatus Operator. They will also be certified as First Responders to Medical Emergencies by the State of Minnesota Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board. These firefighters will be highly trained to meet the West Metro Fire-Rescue District’s mission, values and vision of the critical services provided to the communities of Crystal and New Hope.

11.16.2007

West Metro Fire-Rescue District announces 2007 School Fire Safety Poster Contest winners.
 

1st Place Winner

2nd Place Winner

3rd Place Winner

A Fire Prevention Poster contest, sponsored by the Minnesota State Fire Chief’s Association, is held annually by fire departments who are members of the North Suburban Regional Mutual Aid Association (NSRMAA).

Elementary school students in the 4^th and 5^th grades produce posters containing residential fire prevention themes.  The themes depicted center around the National Fire Prevention Association’s Fire Prevention theme or other home fire safety issues.  Completed posters are judged within each participant fire department to determine a local champion poster.  The champion posters are then submitted to the NSRMAA through its Fire Marshal Division and judged to determine a regional champion.  A special plaque and prize are awarded to each local champion with a special prize awarded to the regional champion.  Prizes and plaques are awarded to winners at a special Poster Awards meeting and dinner sponsored by the NSRMAA.

All posters submitted as local winners are then forwarded to the Minnesota Fire Chief’s Association for additional judging to determine a State of Minnesota Fire Prevention Poster Champion.  NSRMAA local poster champions compete against fire prevention posters submitted by participating fire departments statewide.

Photos of the 2007 North Suburban Regional Mutual Aid Association winning posters and information concerning them are included in this site.

Congratulations! to all participants and especially our West Metro Fire-Rescue District winners for participating.

11.14.2007

West Metro Fire-Rescue District completes Basic Animal Rescue Training Program.


 

Basic Animal Rescue Training (BART) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization run by volunteers in the veterinary profession and supported by community donations. BART’s mission is to empower firefighters and other first responder personnel with the training, knowledge base and equipment necessary to safely and effectively handle domestic animals encountered in emergency situations, in order to help preserve human health, safety and well being. BART offers classes to first responders (firefighters, police, paramedics, EMTs and Community Emergency Response Teams) teaching restraint and handling of pets, horses and livestock, as well as patient assessment/first aid and CPR for companion animals. The departments undergoing training receive an emergency medical kit that contains all the materials and supplies covered in the small animal course. BART has trained and equipped over 1,500 first responder personnel in Minnesota since December of 2004.

10.03.2007

West Metro Fire-Rescue District announces its 2007 paid on call Firefighter recruiting campaign.

If you have ever been interested in becoming a paid on call firefighter we would invite you to attend either our annual fire prevention open house on October 13th from noon-3pm at our station#3 located at 4251 Xylon Ave N, New Hope, or an informational meeting on October 16th at either 9:30am or 6:00pm.

To learn more about becoming a firefighter click here.

Click here to view our recruiting campaign flyer

09.28.2007

West Metro Fire-Rescue District announces an opportunity for the communities we serve to support our Home Town helper grant request.

WMFRD has applied for a “My Hometown Helper” grant to buy new 2 1/2” hose for our engines. This new hose will replace hose that has been in service for more than 20 years.

The “My Hometown Helper” grant is sponsored by General Mills and Hamburger Helper. They are searching for people in “your” hometown that are raising funds to help the community. Hamburger Helper will fund initiatives to help hometowns across America with monetary grants of up to $15,000.00 per project during the time frame of August 1, 2007 - September 31, 2007.

The community needs to show support in order for us to receive this grant so please follow the link below and Add a Comment of Support.

Please forward this link to friends and family that will also show support.

By clicking here and providing your input in support of our grant request to purchase much needed firefighting hose we are certain we will be successful in our request.

Thank you for your support!

West Metro Fire-Rescue District announces an opportunity for the communities we

09.19.2007

West Metro Fire-Rescue District announces receipt of a $15,000 Grant from Fireman's Fund Insurance Heritage Program.

The Department was facing the need to replace all of its turn-out gear since most of the existing turn-out gear is near the end of its serviceable life and new NFPA Standards have taken effect resulting in nearly all turn-out gear being non-compliant.  The grant funds a critical need for the department since turn-out gear is an essential life-safety tool for our firefighters.  An employee team begin work over a year ago evaluating products in the marketplace and conducting a thorough evaluation of turn-out gear before making its recommendation, the goal of the organization is purchase new compliant turn-out gear for all personnel ensuring the highest level of protection for them as they perform their duties in protecting our customers during fire, EMS and other emergency incidents.

New this year!

Our Open House will be held at only one station this year.

Date: Saturday October 13, 2007

Hours:12:00pm to 3:00pm

Location: Station#3

4251 Xylon Ave N, New Hope

Schedule of events

12:00 Event Begins

12:00-3:00 Fire Truck Rides

12:30 Technical Rescue Demonstration

1:00 Helicopter landing and Door Prize Drawing

1:30 K-9 Demonstration

2:00 Door Prize Drawing

2:30 Live Burn Demonstration

2:50 Door Prize Drawing

3:00 Event Ends

Please note, events and times are subject to change

Activities will include; Sparky the Fire Dog, Fire Truck Rides, Squirt House, Activities such as Stop, Drop and Roll, Escape Drill, Fire Tools and Gear, Door Prizes, North Ambulance display, New Hope and Crystal Police Department displays, demonstration from New Hope K-9, Fire safety demonstrations such as Technical Rescue demo, Extinguisher demo, and a Live Burn demo, Masonic child ID program, Red Cross “Get Ready Display”, and a special appearance by a North Memorial Medical Helicopter. Food will include: hot dogs, chips, cookies, popcorn, coffee and juice.

Sponsored By: In cooperation with the West Metro Fire Families, West Metro Relief Association, West Metro Fire Explorers, Crystal Police Department, New Hope Police Department an Reserves, Robbinsdale Masonic Temple, North Memorial Medical Center, Red Cross, Salvation Army, and the Cities of Crystal and New Hope.

West Metro Fire-Rescue District announces ninth officer promotion.

West Metro Fire-Rescue District proudly announces of the promotion of the following individual effective July 27, 2007.

Station#3

• Dan Halvorson promoted to the rank of Lieutenant

West Metro Fire-Rescue District announces eight officer promotions.
 

West Metro Fire-Rescue District proudly announces of the promotions of the following individuals effective July 9, 2007.

Administration

• Shelby Wolf to the rank of Lieutenant

Station#1

• Tom Anderson promoted to the rank of Captain
• Jeff Hurney promoted to the rank of Lieutenant
• Vance Schwartz promoted to the rank of Lieutenant

Station#2

• Karsten Nelson promoted to the rank of Lieutenant
• Ryan Sodd promoted to the rank of Lieutenant

Station#3

• Dan Roby promoted to the rank of Captain
• Joel Nelson promoted to the rank of Lieutenant

West Metro Fire-Rescue District welcomes two new employees.

Sarah Larson Joins West Metro Fire-Rescue

Sarah Larson began her career as West Metro’s first Administrative Captain on July 2, 2007. Sarah brings with her more than eleven years of firefighting and leadership experience.

Sarah Larson has served as a fire training coordinator for more than six years, as well as a fire inspector and paid on call firefighter for eleven years.  Sarah holds firefighter I, fire instructor II, fire apparatus operator III fire inspector II certifications and is a EMT-B.  Additionally Sarah holds numerous certificates of achievement and completion from the National Fire Academy.  Sarah is currently serving as the President, of the North Suburban Regional Mutual Aid Association, Training Officers Division.

Captain Larson will be responsible for management of West Metro Fire-Rescue District’s training programs, and operational best practices.  As well as firefighting and emergency medical response duties.  Captain Larson will be an integral member of the administrative and leadership team.

Paula Steelman Joins West Metro Fire-Rescue

Paula Steelman began her career as West Metro’s first ever Office Assistant on May 7, 2007.

Paula is a member of a lifelong firefighting family, Paula’s brothers and father have served as firefighters for the City of Wayzata for decades, providing Paula with a depth of fire department experience to draw upon. Paula will be responsible for collection and management of the District's records management system, providing timely data to aid in administration of the District.
 

11.29.2006 Press Release

West Metro Fire-Rescue District announces receipt of a $226,542 Assistance to Firefighters Grant

Fire Chief Scott Crandall was informed on November 24, 2006 that West Metro Fire-Rescue District was awarded a $226,542 Fire Act Grant.  This grant will fund replacement of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus, associated equipment and training. 

The Department was facing the need to replace all of its SCBA equipment since most of the existing units are near the end of serviceable life and new NFPA Standards are coming into effect as well.  The grant funds a critical need for the department since the SCBA is an essential life-safety tool for our firefighters.  A department committee is set to begin a thorough evaluation of SCBA equipment available before making its purchase.