ANJOHNSON IEF
IamproudtopresenttheFireDepartment’s2024annual report!Duringtheyear,wemadegreatuseofournew laddertruck,hiredthreenewfirefighters,hadfivenew firefightersgraduatefromourFireAcademy,respondedto 381callsandcompletedmorethan4,200hoursoftraining. Inaddition,weparticipatedinmanycommunityeventsand hostedaverysuccessfulFirePreventionOpenHouse.
WealsobidfarewelltoFireChiefDaveDreelanwhoserved withtheDepartmentfor34years.Onbehalfofthe Department,theCityandthecommunity,Iwanttothank ChiefDreelanforhisservice,dedication,andleadership.
Iamhumbledtostepintotheroleoffirechiefandbuild uponthestrongfoundationChiefDreelanleavesbehind.It iswithtremendousgratitudeandsenseofhumilitythatI thankyoufortheopportunitytoleadtheFireDepartment.
Wearecommittedtocontinuallyimprovingtraining, strengtheningcommunityoutreach,andensuringour Departmentiswellequippedtomeetthechallengesofthe future.
Thanksforyourongoingsupportofthe FireDepartment!
-ChiefJohnson
RETENTION RECRUITMENT&
TheMendotaHeightsFireDepartmentisapaidon-call(paidwhencalledtoduty)teamof dedicatedresidentswhoservetheircommunity. Torecruitandretainfirefighters,leadershave expandedoutreach,improvedtraining,and enhancedbenefitsinpartnershipwiththeCity Council.
Haveapassionforteamwork,solvingchallenges, andwanttocontributetoagreatercause?Learn aboutwhatittakestobecomeafirefighterat
ASSOCIATION FIRERELIEF
TheMendotaHeightsFireReliefAssociation managestheFireDepartment’sretirementfunds. Eachyear,theCityandStatecontributetothe pensionfund,whichhelpsrecruitandretain firefightersandrewardslong,dedicatedservice.
TheReliefAssociationalsoleadsfundraising effortsforprojectsoutsidetheCity Budget,includingtheannual retirementbanquetand communityoutreachevents.
Donationsarewelcome.To supporttheAssociation, mailacheckpayableto:
TRAINING DEPARTMENT
In2024,firefighters completed:
4,201hoursofcumulative training.
113traininghoursper firefighter.
800totalinstructorhours.
Trainingincluded:
MassCasualtyIncidents &Triage
HazardousMaterials
IceWaterRescue
TechnicalRescue Scenarios
Search&Rescue
FirefighterSurvivability& Maydays
AutoExtrication
FiregroundOperations
Twofirefighterscompleted a40-hourprogramto becomecertified Driver/Operators:
TJSamec AlexLauth
Fivenewfirefighters graduatedfromtheFire Academy: RickyChodek GretchenConner ChristianDouah EmilyMahon AnnaMolinaro
InAugust,theDepartment welcomedthreenew recruits: JoeFabiano PeteJohnson BrandonRebhan
EDUCATION PUBLIC
Publiceducationisan importantpartoffire preventionandsafety.In 2024,theDepartment…
HostedaFirePrevention OpenHousefeaturing:
Fireextinguishertraining
FirepreventionBINGO
Fireescapeplanningand practicewiththesafety smokehouse
Engagedwiththe communityat:
FrozenFunFest
BogeywiththeRed&
PickleballwithPublic
MendotaDaysparade
Offeredon-the-spot trainingin:
Fireextinguishers Hands-onlyC.P.R.
Thisyear’sOpen Housefeaturedalive firedemonstration highlightingthe importanceofclosing bedroomdoorsat nighttoprotect occupantsinthe eventofafire—and reinforcedthevital needforworking smokeandcarbon monoxidedetectors ineveryhome.
RETIREMENTS DEPARTMENT
DaveDreelan
InJanuary2025,ChiefDreelan retiredfromtheDepartment,after34 yearsofservice.Havinggrownupin MendotaHeights,Davefollowedin hisfather’sfootstepswhenhejoined theFireDepartment.Heworkedhis wayupthroughtheranks,and becamechiefin2017.
InhistimewiththeDepartment, Daveprovidedvaluableinsight, leadershipandexceptionalservice tothecommunity.Thepositive changeshemadearecountless. Thanksforyourdedicatedservice, Dave–wewillcarryyourlegacy forward.
DavidWinge
DavidjoinedtheFireDepartmentin 2013and,afterservingthe communityfor10years,retiredin 2024.
OnbehalfoftheDepartmentandthe entirecommunity,wewishDavidthe verybestonhisnextchapter!
