Robbinsdale Fire Department Ready at a Moment’s Notice
The Robbinsdale Fire Department trains each week to be ready in a moment’s notice.
“Pretty much when people dial 911 they are expecting a service to be performed and delivered, and it usually involves the fire department,” says Fire Chief Guy Dorholt.
Robbinsdale Fire Department trains year-round to stay in tip-top shape.
The Department is composed of 30 firefighters who are paid-on-call.
That means they have day jobs that they leave when they get the call to help.
“Top-down all of us have career jobs or jobs outside of the fire service and when our pager goes off, we respond to and meet that requirement and that call for service,” says Dorholt.
Last year the fire department received 461 calls for service.
The majority of the calls can be broken down into four areas.
“Fire suppression, life safety or medical related, hazardous materials, and false alarm,” says Dorholt.
Five Alarm Fire
Chief Dorholt has led the department since 2016 and knows first hand how dangerous fires can be.
Chief Dorholt recounts 5 Alarm Fire
“June 3 of 2016, we ended up having a 5 alarm fire. Had over 100 firefighters. I sent four to the hospital. We almost lost an apartment complex, but with the help of not only our department, but the surrounding communities, we were able to mitigate that situation,” says Dorholt.
All the firefighters and residents were okay.
But, sadly the fire department has lost one of its own.
Honoring Firefighter Thomas Hollingsworth
“Thomas Hollingsworth was a Robbinsdale firefighter and responded to a house fire here in town and was in a basement of a fire and lost his life there,” says Fire Marshal Greg Bodin.
The Robbinsdale Fire Department honors his memory and sacrifice.
“We have a park here in town named after Thomas Hollingsworth on Crystal Lake and there’s a plaque,” says Bodin. “We actually have committed ourselves to clean that park up several times a year just honoring Thomas.”
Fire Prevention Education
Robbinsdale Firefighters go into schools and hosts an open house each year to remind people how to prevent fires and stay safe.
“It’s never enough to just simply talk about it once and walk away,” says Dorholt. “That’s why we’ve initiated a pretty strong public education program here in the city of Robbinsdale through our fire department.”
Chief Dorholt is thankful for all support given to the fire department.
“Not only are we thankful for the opportunity that the city gives up in terms of our training and the equipment that they purchases for us,” says Dorholt. “But it really wouldn’t happen without the businesses and the support of significant others, spouses, and the community itself for our firefighters to actually respond and perform their job.”
Dorholt is looking ahead to its future and the ways it can continue to serve the residents of Robbinsdale.
Although the fire department if fully staffed currently, they are always looking for qualified applicants to join their ranks.
