Apple Valley Fire Department

The first 40 years

*Let the pictures load - It's worth it!!

Early History Before The Fire Department

The Town of Lebanon formed on April 26, 1858 shortly after Minnesota became a state.  The name was derived from Lebanon, New Hampshire where early settlers came from.  The name changed to Apple Valley when the city incorporated in 1969 and an election selected the name Apple Valley.  Lebanon was an agrarian township starting with a population of 213 representing 40 households.  The town population grew slowly reaching 585 by 1960.  During the 1950's, Lebanon received fire protection from the Rosemount Fire Department.  The fire protection contract from 1953 provided for one pumper and three firefighters at a rate of $270 per call.

Establishment of Lebanon Fire Department

In 1963, Orrin Thompson started building the first Apple Valley subdivision near County Road 42 and Hayes Road and the population began it's rapid growth. As the population grew, it became necessary to provide better fire protection and the town board began making plans for Lebanon Fire Department.  Activity began in early 1966 when Town Constable Ken Rowley started teaching a first aid class to new members.

The fire department officially began November 14, 1966 when the Town board adopted Ordinance number 33 creating the Lebanon Fire Department.  The ordinance lists the 43 firefighters who were sworn in as charter members.  A picture taken in the old fire station at city hall shows charter members being sworn in by town clerk Cecelia Strunk while town board members Arleigh Thorberg, John Natwick, and Bill Delaney observe.

Past and Present Chiefs

Jerry Holiday was elected as the first Fire Chief.  In 1969, Dick Tuthill followed as the second Chief.  Paul Hunsinger served as Chief in 1979.  Dick Tuthill returned as Chief until he retired in 1994.  Marv Calvin followed Dick Tuthill as Fire Chief until he resigned in 1999 to become the full-time Willmar Fire Chief.  Keith Wassmund followed Calvin and continued as Chief in 2000.  

First Full time Fire Chief 

After over 36 years being served by a Volunteer/Paid On-call Chief, the City Council of the City of Apple Valley appointed the first FULL TIME Fire Chief effective May 13, 2002 ... Keith Wassmund

Purchase of First Fire Apparatus  

The first fire apparatus was a 1966 Ford pumper built by General Safety Equipment of North Branch Minnesota.  Truck 4981, was retired from service in Apple Valley in 1995 and began service in a small northern Minnesota town.  An early picture of 4981 shows that it did not have a crew cab and firefighters rode to fire alarms standing on the tailboard.  The truck was later rebuilt to include a crew cab, and cross-lay hose beds.  

When the department first started, firefighters had to share protective equipment consisting of 16 black rubber fire coats, pull-up rubber boots, rubber gloves, and plastic helmets.   Today each firefighter has a complete set of protective equipment including Kevlar coat and bunker pants, fiberglass helmet with two protective hoods, leather gloves, and face mask for breathing apparatus.

Initial Alarm Responses

Lebanon firefighters began responding to night alarms in February 1967 and to daytime alarms later that same year.  Rosemount firefighters continued to provide support as they were needed.  In the first few years, the town was divided, with Lebanon firefighters responded to calls in the western half, and Rosemount firefighters continued to provide protection for the eastern portion.  The dividing line was a gravel road named Fairgreen Avenue.  This road is now named Johnny Cake Ridge Road as it aligns with a road of the same name in Eagan.

In the early years, Lebanon Fire Department was under contract to provide fire protection for the Valley Park subdivision of Lakeville.  When Lakeville built Fire Station 2 on Dodd Boulevard, their fire department took over fire protection for Valley Park area.

Population

In the late 1950’s, the population of Lebanon started growing rapidly in the western part, and generally spread to the east.  In 40 years the population jumped from 585 to over 46,000.

Call Increases

In the first year of operation, firefighters responded to a total of 22 emergency calls.  Thirty-Five years later in 2000, they responded to 1031 calls for service.  The number of runs generally increased in proportion to the population.  The number of rescue calls increased in 1972 when firefighters received advanced first aid training and the rescue van entered into service.  Rescue calls increased again in 1979 when the emergency medical (Code-10 Medical) program started.  The number of miscellaneous calls increased around 1979, as firefighters became more involved in calls to hazardous conditions that did not involve fires.  In 1995, the department handled 180 miscellaneous calls.  The increase in use of home carbon monoxide alarms accounted for 62 of these calls.  The number of false alarm calls increased, as larger buildings with alarm systems were constructed in Apple Valley.  False alarm problems are not unusual with new buildings, and they diminish as the new buildings get their alarm problems worked out.

Fire Station Construction

The original fire station was constructed in 1966 as a part of the first new town hall at Cedar Avenue and 142^nd Street.  As the population grew, a second fire station was needed and in 1975, a new Fire Station 1 was constructed at County Road 42 and Hayes Road.  The fire station at city hall remained in use as Station 2 until new stations 2 and 3 were constructed in 1978.  The old fire bays at City Hall were remodeled to house the City Administration offices.  Fire Station 1 was remodeled and expanded in 1990 to include much needed space for workshops, vehicle space, and quarters for ALF ambulance staff.

Fire Telephones

Before the opening of the emergency dispatch center at police headquarters, the fire phones rang in firefighters homes.  Anyone placing a call to the fire department emergency phone number rang telephones in the homes of 20 firefighters with a steady loud ring.  The first firefighter to answer the phone took the information, and if an emergency response was required, they pushed a button starting the siren located on top of a pole at Garden View Drive and County Road 42.   

Fire Dept Base Radio Station

The fire department base radio station began service at City Hall with the radio located in the office of Police Chief Gene Corrigan.  The original FCC radio license is dated October 9, 1968.  This radio was shared with the police officer on duty at the time.  It was the responsibility of a firefighter to go in to the office and operate the radio anytime the trucks went out on a call.  This was not a favorite task for many firefighters as it prevented them from getting in on the action.

Dispatch Center Opening

The police dispatch center started 24-hour operation in August 1974 and their dispatchers took over responsibility for answering the fire phones and radio communications with the trucks.  The fire department started using pagers to alert firefighters at this time.  The police dispatch center moved to their new building by the County Government Center in 1994.

Fire Insurance Class Rating Changes

The fire protection rating of Lebanon Township was class 10 before the fire department started.  The rating improved to class 8 on November 1 1967 when the fire department proved they had the capability to provide protection and they had sufficient water system and manpower.  The rating was upgraded to class 6 in the mid 1970’s, and to class 4 in 1987.

The city received notice in 1998 that the fire insurance rating service Insurance Service Office (ISO) completed their assessment of the Apple Valley Fire Department service capability and changed the fire rating class to Class 3.  The city had been at class 4 since the last assessment and class improvement twelve years ago.  There are six cities in Minnesota with an ISO Class 3 rating.  A rate of 1 is the highest level and very few departments in the US carry a class 1.  

Rescue Service

Before 1972, the fire department did not respond to many rescue calls.  Since the department did not have a rescue vehicle, they responded to vehicle accidents with fire pumpers and a 4-wheel drive grass fire pickup truck.  The rescue equipment was carried in the open back of the grass truck.

In 1972, firefighters receive advanced first aid training, and the rescue van 4990 entered into service.  The rescue van responded to rescue calls with the first 6 firefighters to arrive at the station.  Before 1974, the nearest ambulance in the area was located in Farmington, and firefighters and police officers provided emergency care until the ambulance arrived.  

  Apple Valley was the first fire department in Dakota County to have a Hurst Jaws-of-Life rescue tool.  Apple Valley firefighters used it on many mutual aid calls in the surrounding area until other departments also became equipped with the Jaws-of-Life tool.  This picture was taken, on Highway 50 in Lakeville, by Dakota County Tribune photographer Eugene Clay.  

  In 1974, a volunteer ambulance started with the Apple Valley Clinic.  In 1978, the ambulance changed to Smith Ambulance with full-time Advanced Life Support paramedics.  About this same time, the Code-10 Medical response program started to help with a wider range of medical emergencies and to assist the paramedics.  The cities of Apple Valley, Lakeville, and Farmington joined to form ALF Ambulance in 1986, and this service continues to serve the EMS needs of our community.

SCBA Air Compressors

When the fire department started, firefighters only had a few self-contained breathing apparatus.  The SCBA were not used much, as Apple Valley could not fill air tanks and they had to be taken to other fire departments to be filled.  Apple Valley began filling their breathing apparatus tanks from a tank cascade system around 1972.  When the cascade tanks were empty, they also had to be taken elsewhere to be refilled.  The first breathing air compressor entered into service when Station 1 opened in 1975 allowing Apple Valley to fill their tanks.  Air compressors were installed in Station 2 and 3 in later years to provide firefighters with a closer source of air for their breathing apparatus.  The department how has SCBA for all firefighters at the fire scene and firefighters are not allowed to enter a hazardous area without SCBA. Firefighters are tested annually for fitness to wear SCBA respiratory protection.

Opticom System

The Opticom traffic preemption system was put into service on AVFD vehicles on December 28, 1988.  Opticom made driving fire vehicles in Apple Valley safer because emergency vehicles never need to enter an intersection against a red light.

Special Tactical Rescue Team

The Apple Valley Fire Department also maintains a Technical Rescue Team.  TRT members receive additional training in high-level rope rescue and confined space rescue.  With ropes, harnesses, and an assortment of hardware, this team is able to perform rescues from buildings and towers, from trenches and excavations, and from permit-required confined spaces.  This team serves the City of Apple Valley and its industries and residents.

Explorer Post

The Apple Valley Fire Department Explorer post entered its fifth year in 1999.  Exploring is a program for young men and women ages 14-21.  The Boy Scouts of America sponsor it.  Explorers receive exposure to firefighter training and provide community service by assisting in fire prevention activities.

During 1999, Explorers assisted the department with fire prevention activities throughout the year.  They assisted with station tours, safety camp, station open houses, school visits, and helped with the first ever Fire Prevention Day at the State Fair.  Explorers also participated in their first competition on post history.  They competed in search and rescue, ladder techniques, and gear donning.  The Explorers did very well in their first competition.

Cairns Iris Thermal Imaging System

In 1997 the department received its first Cairns Iris thermal imaging system, and the second in 1998.  These units consist of an infrared sensor mounted on a fire helmet with a viewer so firefighters can see a visual image based on the heat radiated from objects located in front of them.  This provides firefighters the ability to see objects in a room obscured with smoke.  This is useful for rescuing fire victims, and also recognizing hazards such as holes in floors and hidden fires. 

Respiratory Protection

Our Firefighter Respirator Program coincides with the City of Apple Valley (AWAIR) Safety Manual and OSHA requirements.  All firefighters completed annual respirator qualitative fit testing for SCBA masks and airborne pathogen respirator masks.

Hazardous Condition Monitoring

We are using air quality monitoring instruments to test the air in hazardous environments (CO, Gas, H2S, and oxygen deficient), such as on carbon monoxide alarms from residential detectors.  We also test the air at every structure fire before persons are allowed to enter the structure without respiratory protection.

Personal Accountability System

To assure that our firefighters have the safest possible environment, we continue to use a personnel accountability system where the Incident Commander is responsible for and can account for every firefighter who is working on the incident scene.  This complies with the OSHA 2-in-2-out rule.  We also equip each firefighter with the MSA Firefly II Personal Alert (PASS) devices.  These instruments monitor firefighters while they are in the fire and sound an alarm to help locate and rescue firefighters if they become trapped, injured, or lost while fighting a structure fire.

New Fire Stations 2 & 3

The first meeting of the fire station 2 and 3 construction committee was held on May 3, 1978.  A bond issue for the stations was approved and stations 2 and 3 were built in the following year.  Pages of the pamphlet distributed to Apple Valley residents show the issues discussed.

Relief Association Incorporated

The Apple Valley Fireman’s Relief Association incorporated in December of 1969.  The Relief Association provides retirement for firefighters serving Apple Valley.

Alarms to Remember

144^th Street Four-plex

The fire in a four-plex under construction across from Apple Valley High School in 1980 was one of the larger fires in Apple Valley at the time.  This fire had several pictures in the local newspaper.  It was the first fire call where the new pumper/Telesquirt unit 4984 was put to use.  It was set up to protect the adjacent structures.  

Oriole Drive Fire

A vehicle in the garage being worked on caught fire and spread to the entire home.  No lives were lost but the home was destroyed.  

Mobile Home Fire

The mobile home fire, at Cedar Knolls Park, destroyed the residence, but no one was injured.  This photo was published in Firehouse Magazine.  

129^th & Hamlet – Stone House

The large stone house at 129^th and Hamlet Avenue required mutual aid from several area fire departments.  The picture of this was printed on the cover of the Minnesota Fire Chief Magazine.  

Lampert’s Lumber Yard

Lampert’s Lumber sales building caught fire from carelessly discarded paint rags destroyed the sales showroom and damaged the attached lumber storage building.  This photo was taken from video about 30 seconds before the roof collapsed.

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Copyright © 2006 Apple Valley Fire Department  Last modified: May 14, 2007