Storm Lake Fire Department Reports 440 Calls, Extensive Training and Outreach

Storm Lake’s fire department answered 440 calls last year, a figure that underscores both the day-to-day demands on local emergency services and the value of sustained prevention and training. Among those responses were 28 fires that produced property loss, and investigators examined 13 incidents to determine causes and reduce future risk.

The department covers 93 square miles across Storm Lake and neighboring townships from its Oneida Street station and is staffed by three full-time personnel and 21 paid-on-call professionals. Leadership reports that fire prevention took center stage in 2025: crews completed 410 inspections of rental units, schools, and municipal buildings, found 51 violations, and had every issue corrected within the required timeframe, producing a 100 percent compliance rate for inspected properties.

Public education was also a major focus. Firefighters conducted 134 public education activities and reached more than 1,500 young people through events such as Fire Prevention Week, Kids Fest, and Chills & Thrills. Those programs aim to build safety habits early and reinforce prevention messages across neighborhoods and at community gatherings, important in a county where family life and local events are central to civic life.

Readiness was reinforced through extensive training. Department members logged more than 1,792 hours across disciplines including CPR, fire suppression, technical rescue, and officer development. Specialized sessions covered high-angle rescue, ice rescue, livestock rollover response, and traffic incident management, reflecting the mixed urban-rural risks firefighters face in an area with water, roadway, and agricultural exposures. Several members also earned new certifications, a practical boost to the department’s operational capability.

Personnel changes marked the year as well. Former Fire Chief Glenn Schlesser departed, while long-serving firefighters Mike Nebitt, Brandon Ripke, and Sam Ortman retired. Three new recruits - Luke Ehlers, Andrew Kutz, and Anderson Zamora - joined the ranks, sustaining staffing levels for frontline response and community programs.

For local residents, the annual report provides concrete measures of how public safety resources were applied: rapid responses to emergencies, consistent inspections that keep public spaces safer, outreach that targets the next generation, and training that equips crews for specialized rescues. The department has signaled plans to expand outreach and improve services in 2026, and the full annual report is available on the City of Storm Lake’s website under the fire department page for anyone seeking details on calls, inspections, trainings, and community programming.