Fire Department Divisions

The Red Wing Fire Department prides itself in providing professional services to the citizens of Red Wing. Our goal is to maintain a high level of customer satisfaction to everyone who uses our services. By doing so, the Fire Department Divisions work together to protect life and preserve property. This makes the City of Red Wing a safer place to live and do business.

Fire Prevention

Fire Suppression activities are not the only way to combat fires. A well planned and executed fire prevention program is a less expensive and more effective way to accomplish the goal of the fire service. The goal is, of course, to protect life and minimize property loss from fire. The Fire Prevention Bureau consists of a Fire Marshal and one Fire Inspector.  The prevention staff are also utilized to answer emergency fire and EMS calls.

Fire Suppression

The City of Red Wing Fire Department protects 45 square miles. This area covers Red Wing city limits as well as Wacouta Township in Goodhue County and Diamond Bluff Township in Pierce County. There are 24 career firefighters in the suppression division which form three shifts that work a rotating 24 hour schedule. One Captain and six firefighters comprise a shift. The remaining three firefighters work out of the prevention and training division as well. Red Wing also has 26 paid on call firefighters which supplement career firefighters at reported structure fires. Last year, firefighters answered 929 fire calls. Modern day fire departments such as Red Wing do not just respond to fires anymore. We also provide services such as Advanced Life Support Ambulance Service, Ice/Water Rescue, High Angle/Rope Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, and Hazardous Material Releases.

Fire Training

A progressive fire prevention program designed to increase public awareness is gradually decreasing the number of structure fires. Although good for the community, this can lead to a lack of fireground experience for our firefighters and officers. Modern day homes are being constructed with more cost effective materials which typically lead to earlier structural collapse when impinged upon by fire. Also, homes being built today are more energy efficient which allows for high smoke and heat conditions to build up inside. The use of plastics in many homes has greatly increased which causes faster burning at temperatures 2-3 times hotter than wood. The combination of these conditions can lead to disaster if not properly trained and prepared.

The City of Red Wing requires its firefighters to be Minnesota State Certified at a Firefighter 2 Level. There is ongoing training to meet state recertification and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements. Each career firefighter receives a minimum of 120 hours of fire and rescue training annually. Paid on call firefighters receive 72 hours per year. Fire training is coordinated and conducted by the Training Specialist and Fire Captains. These Fire Instructors are certified by Riverland Technical College and follow National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) guidelines. Off site instructors are brought in for advanced and/or specialized training. Training sessions that are conducted include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Emergency Egress and Personal Escape
  • Emergency Driving and Pump Operations
  • Rapid Intervention Team (RIT)
  • Vehicle Firefighting
  • Rope Rescue
  • Ice/Water Rescue
  • Hazardous Material
  • Confined Space Operations
  • Extrication
  • Fire Boat Operations
  • Wildland Firefighting
  • Company Officer Strategies and Tactics
  • OSHA required courses
  • Structural Firefighting
    • Live Fire Evolutions
    • Fire Behavior/Building Construction
    • Forcible Entry/Exit
    • Ventilation
    • Ladders
    • Hose/Fire Streams
    • SCBA/Search and Rescue
    • Incident Command System/Accountability
    • Engine (Pumper) Operations
    • Truck (Aerial) Operations

2006 Fire and EMS Training Statistics

For more information on Fire Training, please contact:

Brian Dorn
Fire and EMS Training Specialist
@ci.red-wing.mn.us
651.385.3677

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