Rochester Fire Department hosts women’s expo

VIDEO: Rochester Fire Department held an expo, inviting local women to explore a career as a firefighter. This is the third time the department has hosted the event. Some of the things the participants got to experience includes rappelling down a building, climbing the 110-foot aerial ladder and learning how to extricate a person from a vehicle. The fire department hopes the expo shows that women can do this job too. “Most people associate firefighting with big strong men because that’s what we grew up with, that’s what we’ve seen, well now the job has changed, things have changed and this job requires all of us,” RFD firefighter Mandee Marx said. As these brave women got a taste of what it’s like to be a firefighter, the RFD looks to keep the expo going in the future to break the stigma that you have to be a certain size and gender to do this job.
KAAL-TV ABC 6 Rochester

$1.3M grant would boost Mankato fire response time

Aiming to improve firefighter response time on Mankato’s hilltop, city officials are seeking a nearly $1.3 million federal grant that would allow a second fire station to operate 24 hours a day. Currently, only Fire Station 1 — the station attached to the Public Safety Center on South Front Street near downtown — is consistently staffed during daytime hours, meaning a lengthy trip for firefighters responding to a blaze on the eastern edge of Mankato. Success in obtaining a $1.264 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency would bring full-time staffing to Fire Station 2, located on Augusta Drive near Highway 22. That station’s district includes portions of Mankato on both sides of Highway 14, much of the hilltop commercial area north of Madison Avenue and the growing number of apartment buildings along and east of Highway 22.
The Free Press - Metered Site

Rochester Fire Department responds to vehicle fires at apartment complex

VIDEO: The Rochester Fire Department responded to a call Sunday evening that involved multiple vehicles that were on fire. According to RFD, it received multiple calls for a vehicle fire at 1942 8 ½ Street SE, the Andover Apartments. Crews found two cars engulfed with flames spreading to the nearby apartment building. RFD said there was significant fire damage to two vehicles and slight damage to one other. The apartment building suffered melted siding with no other obvious exterior damage. According to RFD, Engine 1 deployed a hose line for fire attack and quickly knocked down the fire involving the vehicles. Truck 12 stretched another hand line and protected the apartment building from impinging fire. Firefighters searched the apartment building and checked for smoke and possible fire extension.
KTTC-TV NBC 10 Rochester

Follow-up: Minnesota Senate passes EMS aid package with unanimous support

The Minnesota Senate passed a $30 million aid package Saturday for rural emergency medical services (EMS) with unanimous support. The bill provides $24 million in emergency aid for EMS providers who are focused on services in Greater Minnesota. Another $6 million is dedicated to an innovative sprint medic pilot program. Throughout the interim, a bipartisan EMS Task Force investigated how the state can improve the life-saving services provided by EMS personnel. The Task Force was created following a 2022 report from the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA). Field hearings were held throughout the state, and the task force made key recommendations, many of which are reflected in the Senate’s EMS aid package. The OLA report found the EMS Regulatory Board (EMSRB) was ineffective in its regulatory role.
KAAL-TV ABC 6 Rochester