Devils Lake Rural Fire Department proudly protects 12,000 people living in an area of 530 square miles. We operate out of 2 stations that protect a primarily rural area. Our department is a private department whose members are made up of volunteers.
The Devils Lake Rural Fire Department was founded in 1960. We currently have 24 active members on our department. We are a privately funded, non-profit organization with a 9 person corporation board who are elected from different areas of our district.
The Devils Lake Rural Fire Department was founded in 1960. We currently have 24 active members on our department. We are a privately funded, non-profit organization with a 9 person corporation board who are elected from different areas of our district.
History of DLRFD
In 1960, the Devils Lake City Commission served NOTICE that the Devils Lake Fire Department would no longer be able to serve the rural area for fire protection. They could no longer go outside of the city limits resulting in the Devils Lake City Fire Department being classified as a #1-A fire department which further resulted in lower insurance rates.
The surrounding community did not think much about it until February 21, 1960 when a fire at the Edward Allard home in Lakewood burned to the ground around 10:15pm. The Allard family was at a basketball game when the fire started. They lost all of their belongings except one chair and the clothing they were wearing. Several neighbors gathered that night and the talk of having a Rural Fire Department started.
It was going to be a great undertaking, yet on March 28, 1960 a meeting was held. Officers were elected that night with Leon Warner being elected president. He acted as master of ceremonies with Mrs. L. J. McDougall acting as secretary. They wrote the by-laws and divided the surrounding communities into 6 districts with one Director from each district and two At-Large Directors elected, giving a total of 9 directors. Currently, there are still 9 directors. It was also decided to ask for pledges of $25 for three years. The first election results were: Leon Warner, President; William Frith, Jr., Vice President; and, Robert Kitterman, Secretary/Treasurer. Maurice Barton acted as advisor for the department.
Several meetings with the city commissioners took place to try to work out an agreement for storing a fire truck when the Rural Department would get one. The city said it could not be done on pledges. However, despite being told that pledges would not be enough, the Rural Department collected over 400 pledges by August 1960 totaling $2,250. On August 23, 1960 the board accepted a bid from McHughs in Devils Lake for a 1.5 ton truck. The truck was delivered to Fargo where Heintz Equipment installed a tank. The cost of the truck was $4,496.85.
To facilitate fire calls and a meeting place, the board worked a deal with the Ramsey County Commissioners. During the day, fire calls would be answered by the janitors and volunteers would answer night calls. The department was given a room above the sheriff's quarters to receive the calls. The truck was stored in a garage behind the city offices, just south of the sheriff's office and jailhouse.
During the annual meeting in March, 1961 it was evident that the Rural Department was becoming a success. It was reported that there were 31 fire calls answered during the year and the accounts receivable showed a balance of $6,866. During the meeting, Pat Martin was elected Fire Chief for 1961-62. The Board of Directors also agreed to sign up the surrounding townships for 3 years for 2 mills and Creel Township for 5 mills. Contracts were sent to Creel, South Minnewauken, Grand Harbor, Morris, Stevens, Minnewauken, Odessa, Freshwater, City of Crary, Mission, and the North part of Lohenes. In addition to dealing with all the regular business, a real estate committee was established.
In 1964, land was purchased from the Skyberg Family to build a meeting room, a place to store the truck and an apartment for a caretaker. Heit Contruction was contracted for the building of the new fire station that would be 48x70 feet. The cost of the building, including electrical and plumbing, was $23,088. The new fire station was completed on November 10, 1964 and an open house was held on February 28, 1965. This was the site for the Devils Lake Rural Fire Department until 1985.
On June 8, 1981 papers were filed to become a Title A Fire Protection Department Corporation. On December 1, 1981 the department was accepted.
In July, 1984 the Board of Directors met and voted to purchase property south of Highway 2 and East of Highway 20 to build a new fire station and to sell the present building. The building was completed and in March, 1985 the annual meeting was held there.
In 1995-96 a joint venture was formed between the City of Crary and the Rural Fire Department to erect a community center and fire hall in Crary. Many public donations were made to complete the inside of the community center. The Department's responsibility was to pay for a portion of the construction which was not covered by grants.
In 1998, the FCC license was received allowing the Rural Department to have their own radio frequency and not be tied into the Ramsey County channel. This has allowed the department to have clearer communication abilities and to respond more quickly. The communication is tied into the 911 Emergency Communications Center. New radios were purchased for the trucks in addition to 5 mobile radios for personal vehicles. There there are currently 20 firefighters equipped with hand-held radios and all volunteers are equipped with pagers.
The Devils Lake Rural Fire Department has become a top-notch fire department. The department active list has increased in membership. Some of the volunteers are now qualified in ND State Firefighter I & II, First Responder, Emergency Medical Technician and Automobile Extrication. The department has also purchased 35 sets of firegear and fire gear racks, 20 sets of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) with spare tanks, a hose pressure tester, and new hoses and nozzles. The department currently has 7 fire trucks: 3 Tanker Pumpers, 1 Tanker, and 3 Brush Trucks. In addition to the fire trucks, the department has a Rescue Truck, and 2 Equipment Trucks and a trailer.
The surrounding community did not think much about it until February 21, 1960 when a fire at the Edward Allard home in Lakewood burned to the ground around 10:15pm. The Allard family was at a basketball game when the fire started. They lost all of their belongings except one chair and the clothing they were wearing. Several neighbors gathered that night and the talk of having a Rural Fire Department started.
It was going to be a great undertaking, yet on March 28, 1960 a meeting was held. Officers were elected that night with Leon Warner being elected president. He acted as master of ceremonies with Mrs. L. J. McDougall acting as secretary. They wrote the by-laws and divided the surrounding communities into 6 districts with one Director from each district and two At-Large Directors elected, giving a total of 9 directors. Currently, there are still 9 directors. It was also decided to ask for pledges of $25 for three years. The first election results were: Leon Warner, President; William Frith, Jr., Vice President; and, Robert Kitterman, Secretary/Treasurer. Maurice Barton acted as advisor for the department.
Several meetings with the city commissioners took place to try to work out an agreement for storing a fire truck when the Rural Department would get one. The city said it could not be done on pledges. However, despite being told that pledges would not be enough, the Rural Department collected over 400 pledges by August 1960 totaling $2,250. On August 23, 1960 the board accepted a bid from McHughs in Devils Lake for a 1.5 ton truck. The truck was delivered to Fargo where Heintz Equipment installed a tank. The cost of the truck was $4,496.85.
To facilitate fire calls and a meeting place, the board worked a deal with the Ramsey County Commissioners. During the day, fire calls would be answered by the janitors and volunteers would answer night calls. The department was given a room above the sheriff's quarters to receive the calls. The truck was stored in a garage behind the city offices, just south of the sheriff's office and jailhouse.
During the annual meeting in March, 1961 it was evident that the Rural Department was becoming a success. It was reported that there were 31 fire calls answered during the year and the accounts receivable showed a balance of $6,866. During the meeting, Pat Martin was elected Fire Chief for 1961-62. The Board of Directors also agreed to sign up the surrounding townships for 3 years for 2 mills and Creel Township for 5 mills. Contracts were sent to Creel, South Minnewauken, Grand Harbor, Morris, Stevens, Minnewauken, Odessa, Freshwater, City of Crary, Mission, and the North part of Lohenes. In addition to dealing with all the regular business, a real estate committee was established.
In 1964, land was purchased from the Skyberg Family to build a meeting room, a place to store the truck and an apartment for a caretaker. Heit Contruction was contracted for the building of the new fire station that would be 48x70 feet. The cost of the building, including electrical and plumbing, was $23,088. The new fire station was completed on November 10, 1964 and an open house was held on February 28, 1965. This was the site for the Devils Lake Rural Fire Department until 1985.
On June 8, 1981 papers were filed to become a Title A Fire Protection Department Corporation. On December 1, 1981 the department was accepted.
In July, 1984 the Board of Directors met and voted to purchase property south of Highway 2 and East of Highway 20 to build a new fire station and to sell the present building. The building was completed and in March, 1985 the annual meeting was held there.
In 1995-96 a joint venture was formed between the City of Crary and the Rural Fire Department to erect a community center and fire hall in Crary. Many public donations were made to complete the inside of the community center. The Department's responsibility was to pay for a portion of the construction which was not covered by grants.
In 1998, the FCC license was received allowing the Rural Department to have their own radio frequency and not be tied into the Ramsey County channel. This has allowed the department to have clearer communication abilities and to respond more quickly. The communication is tied into the 911 Emergency Communications Center. New radios were purchased for the trucks in addition to 5 mobile radios for personal vehicles. There there are currently 20 firefighters equipped with hand-held radios and all volunteers are equipped with pagers.
The Devils Lake Rural Fire Department has become a top-notch fire department. The department active list has increased in membership. Some of the volunteers are now qualified in ND State Firefighter I & II, First Responder, Emergency Medical Technician and Automobile Extrication. The department has also purchased 35 sets of firegear and fire gear racks, 20 sets of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) with spare tanks, a hose pressure tester, and new hoses and nozzles. The department currently has 7 fire trucks: 3 Tanker Pumpers, 1 Tanker, and 3 Brush Trucks. In addition to the fire trucks, the department has a Rescue Truck, and 2 Equipment Trucks and a trailer.