SALUTING AREA FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE!
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WEEK OCT. 3-9, 2021
Cervenkas serve on Rice Fire Department as husband, wife BY NATASHA BARBER | STAFF WRITER
RICE – Even before moving to Rice, RJ and Darby Cervenka had a plan in mind: joining the volunteer fire department. “It was kind of one of our goals as a couple,” Darby said. “I just always thought that once we settled down somewhere, it would be pretty cool to be on a volunteer department.” The Cervenkas are two of Rice Fire Department’s newest firefighters, completing their probationary period Sept. 20. A Lakeville native, Darby met her husband RJ, a 2012 graduate of Sauk Rapids-Rice High School, while the two attended college at Augsburg University in Minneapolis. They married in September 2019. The couple moved to the city in May 2020 after building a home in the Fox Meadows development. As soon as RJ and Darby obtained the address for their parcel, they placed their applications with Rice Fire Chief
Scott Janski. “We were ready to be on the day we moved in,” Darby said. “We had everything ready to go.” The couple officially started training in September 2020. Their first call as probationary firefighters was eyeopening. It was a severe medical emergency involving a local family in the middle of the night. “The good part is we have all these well-trained people,” RJ said of his fellow department members. “My head was swimming.” Darby said the call was intense, and it bothers her to this day. She went home emotional, thinking about how the circumstances could happen to anyone. “A lot of people on our department go into situations that sometimes look like they could be yours too,” Darby said. “Roles could be reversed in any scenario. I don’t know if it was the emotional part of that call or if it’s because it was the first call, but I rememb e r that one
more than any other.” The Cervenkas each have been on more than 50 calls since January alone, responding to structure fires, grass fires, medical calls and accidents. Every year, Rice firefighters are required to make 35% of calls and trainings to remain active. The department meets a minimum of three times each month – twice for trainings and once for vehicle checks. Pages for rescue and fire response happen often in the city and townships Rice serves, and firefighters answer the calls as they are able dependent on the time of day and their locations. A balance of people who work day and night shifts help ensure area residents have help when in need.
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RJ and Darby Cervenka, of Rice, get dressed in turnout gear at Rice Fire Hall Sept. 21. The two moved to Rice in May 2020 and applied to join the department immediately, starting training in September 2020.
PHOTOS BY NATASHA BARBER
RJ and Darby Cervenka take a seat on the front of a fire engine Sept. 21 at Rice Fire Hall in Rice. The husband and wife duo completed their probationary period the day prior and are now fullflegded Rice firefighters.
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