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12 May 2023
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Fire destroys South Dakota’ Lake Norden Fire Department’s building, both ambulances, four out of five fire trucks, US
The Lake Norden emergency building in South Dakota in the US, has been declared a total loss after a fire started Wednesday, 3 May 2023, destroying equipment, both department ambulances and four out of five fire trucks. The call came in at about 05h30 Wednesday morning when volunteer fire fighters from Lake Norden couldn’t even fight their own fire because they couldn’t get to their trucks. Numerous fire fighters from surrounding towns, like Hayti, Estelline, Badger, Castlewood and even Watertown were called in to help knock down the flames but the loss is devastating.
“Heard the page out this morning, we were surprised that’s kind of a bad day for a fire department,” Commander of Search and Rescue of Codington County Larry Howard said. No people were hurt. Crews from Bryant, Castlewood, Hayti and Estelline responded and were able to save one fire truck. ”Unfortunately, with the pole-style building that it is, it doesn’t take a whole lot of fire to make the building a total loss,” said Lake Norden Chief of Police Tony Aas. “All the bunker gear, all the life-saving stuff that they have in there was in the building at the time. So, that’s going to be a big hit,” Chief Aas.
“It has damaged both our vehicles to the point where they are unusable,” Lake Norden Ambulance board president Rusty Antonen said. Some police equipment also burned.
Crews battled the flames all day.
Ron Hines, a board member of the South Dakota Firefighters Association, volunteered to handle the logistics of arranging a fire district in Lake Norden for surrounding emergency agencies to help cover calls.
The Lake Norden Fire Department lost two tanker haulers, a brush truck and one engine pumper.
Other emergency agencies offered ambulances.
”The outpouring was phenomenal. We had calls from as far away as Kansas wanting to bring an ambulance up,” said Chief Aas, who expected to have ambulances running in a matter of days. Lake Area Tech in Watertown has donated an ambulance while Hayti and Codington County have offered to cover fire services.
Police department offices were also destroyed in the fire. The building and vehicles are covered by insurance.
Local restaurants have pitched in, letting first responders have meals and coffee for free.
During a news conference, the mayor said two ambulances and five fire vehicles were destroyed or severely damaged. But people in western Hamlin County will have emergency coverage thanks to nearby communities.
Source: Dakota News Now, Keloland
“Heard the page out this morning, we were surprised that’s kind of a bad day for a fire department,” Commander of Search and Rescue of Codington County Larry Howard said. No people were hurt. Crews from Bryant, Castlewood, Hayti and Estelline responded and were able to save one fire truck. ”Unfortunately, with the pole-style building that it is, it doesn’t take a whole lot of fire to make the building a total loss,” said Lake Norden Chief of Police Tony Aas. “All the bunker gear, all the life-saving stuff that they have in there was in the building at the time. So, that’s going to be a big hit,” Chief Aas.
“It has damaged both our vehicles to the point where they are unusable,” Lake Norden Ambulance board president Rusty Antonen said. Some police equipment also burned.
Crews battled the flames all day.
Ron Hines, a board member of the South Dakota Firefighters Association, volunteered to handle the logistics of arranging a fire district in Lake Norden for surrounding emergency agencies to help cover calls.
The Lake Norden Fire Department lost two tanker haulers, a brush truck and one engine pumper.
Other emergency agencies offered ambulances.
”The outpouring was phenomenal. We had calls from as far away as Kansas wanting to bring an ambulance up,” said Chief Aas, who expected to have ambulances running in a matter of days. Lake Area Tech in Watertown has donated an ambulance while Hayti and Codington County have offered to cover fire services.
Police department offices were also destroyed in the fire. The building and vehicles are covered by insurance.
Local restaurants have pitched in, letting first responders have meals and coffee for free.
During a news conference, the mayor said two ambulances and five fire vehicles were destroyed or severely damaged. But people in western Hamlin County will have emergency coverage thanks to nearby communities.
Source: Dakota News Now, Keloland
