How did we begin?
The Yankton Fire Department began in 1874 as South Dakota's first Bucket Brigade.
The North Side Fire CO. No.3 was organized on October 25, 2025.
The Yankton Fire Department began in 1874 as South Dakota's first Bucket Brigade.
The North Side Fire CO. No.3 was organized on October 25, 2025.
The Yankton Volunteer Fire Department has two full-time employees, one part-time employee, and forty volunteer firefighters who are on call and ready to respond around the clock, 24 hours a day.
Crews gather for scheduled training on two Monday evenings each month, plus any additional opportunities that come up.
A department business meeting takes place on another Monday evening each month, a reminder of the time and dedication volunteering requires. Many of our firefighters have served for 15, 20, 25 years and more.
Crews gather for scheduled training on two Monday evenings each month, plus any additional opportunities that come up.
A department business meeting takes place on another Monday evening each month, a reminder of the time and dedication volunteering requires. Many of our firefighters have served for 15, 20, 25 years and more.
Social events are a big part of who we are.
Each October during National Fire Prevention Week, we host a public open house in the evening. Throughout that week, many of our firefighters visit public and private schools to reach hundreds of students and teach them why fire safety and prevention matter.
The department also holds an annual dinner for the employers of our volunteer firefighters, thanking them for generously allowing their firefighter employees to leave work when the pager sounds.
A second annual dinner welcomes retired firefighters back to the station, honoring the years of volunteer service they gave before hanging up their fire hats.
Our volunteers run annual fundraisers to raise the revenue that supports the volunteer association, which is not covered by any city or rural budget.
Current fundraisers include a donation request mail-out sent to all property owners in our service area.
Each October during National Fire Prevention Week, we host a public open house in the evening. Throughout that week, many of our firefighters visit public and private schools to reach hundreds of students and teach them why fire safety and prevention matter.
The department also holds an annual dinner for the employers of our volunteer firefighters, thanking them for generously allowing their firefighter employees to leave work when the pager sounds.
A second annual dinner welcomes retired firefighters back to the station, honoring the years of volunteer service they gave before hanging up their fire hats.
Our volunteers run annual fundraisers to raise the revenue that supports the volunteer association, which is not covered by any city or rural budget.
Current fundraisers include a donation request mail-out sent to all property owners in our service area.
A Timeline of Key Moments in Our History
- 1874- SOUTH DAKOTA FIRST BUCKET BRIGADE
- 1885- TERRITORIES FIRST ORGANIZED FIRE COMPANIES
- 1887- NEW FIRE HOUSE/CITY HALL 310 WALNUT
- 1890- SOUTH DAKOTA WORLD HOSE RACE CHAMPS
- 1899- 17 WOMEN KILLED BY FIRE- SD INSANE ASYLUM-YANKTON STATE HOSPITAL
- 1914- SOUTH DAKOTA’S FIRST MOTORIZED FIRE ENGINE – YFD - $3600.00
- 1922- THE 5 FIRE COMPANIES DISSOLVE TO BECOME ONE FIRE DEPT
- 1925- AMERICAN LA FRANCE PUMPER PURCHASED $12000.00
- 1934- YFD MOVES TO NEW QUARTERS IN CITY 416 WALNUT
- 1937- LUVERNE PUMPER PURCHASED $8475.00
- 1938- REORGANIZATION TO MEET NATIONAL UNDERWRITERS REQUIREMENTS – OLD FIREMAN WERE RETIRED
- 1938- YFD FIRST PAID FIRE CHIEF
- 1943- FIRST SMOKE MASK – 2 AT $50.00 EACH
- 1949- RURAL CITIZENS PURCHASE “DIAMOND T” FIRETRUCK & DONATE TO YFD
- 1961- YFD FIRST 75’ AERIAL LADDER TRUCK $165,000
- 1964- YFD 1925 AMERICAN LAFRANCE PUMPER RESPONDS TO ITS LAST FIRE AND IS RETIRED-STETSON HOTEL 3RD & BROADWAY
- 1973- YFD 1937 LUVERNE PUMPER IS RETIRED
- 1973- YFD FIRE MARSHAL POSITION IS APPROVED
- 1976- STATION #1 AT 5TH & DOUGLAS IS BUILT
- 1989- REPLACMENT 102’ AERIAL PLATFORM IS PURCHASED $437,000
- 1989- YFD PURCHASES NEW AIRPAKS AT $1300.OO EACH
- 1994- YFD FIRST RESCUE TRUCK AND “JAWS OF LIFE” IN SERVICE
- 1998- YFD FIRST FEMALE FIREFIGHTER
- 2002- RURAL FIRE DEPT. ADDITION TO STATION #1
- 2006- LAKE AREA FIRE STATION IS BUILT
- 2010- CITY’S SECOND FIRE STATION #2 IS BUILT
- 2015- FIRE MUSEUM IS BUILT W/DONATED FUNDS
- 2016- 100’ AERIAL PLATFORM REPLACES 102’ - $965,000
- 2019- YFD PURCHASES 46 AIR PAKS AT $7000.00 EACH
New Fire House & City Hall at 310 Walnut- 1887
Past and Present Leadership
Ole Baker- 1875 to 1885
Fred Kincel- 12/21/1885 to 2/4/2026
James Kingsbury- 2/2/2026 to 10/10/2026
Milt Brisbance- 1/10/2026 to 8/8/2026
John Balmat- 10/17/1890 to 1/8/2026
Asa Grant- 11/2/2026 to 11/21/1892
Frank Zienert- 1/24/1893 to 11/20/1893
Joe Boone- 1/1/2026 to 3/23/1894
Eaer Johnson- 4/16/1894 to 11/19/1894
Jim Todd- 4/10/2026 to 11/16/1896
James Flanagan- 1/13/1897 to 2/11/2025
John Litchy- 2/14/1898 to 7/28/1899
Fred Donaldson- 5/17/1900 to 11/19/1900
WM. Schlegelmilch- 5/7/2026 to 11/1901
William Pierson- 1/22/1902 to 4/4/2026
Wathan Steinback- 11/18/1918 to 11/17/1920
Peter Hohenthaner- 10/19/1922 to 5/27/1938
WM. Schwenk- 5/27/1938 to 7/20/1942
Cecil Bauers- 7/20/1942 to 5/18/1953
Ed Sampson- 8/17/1942 to 10/19/1942
Howard Frick- Fire Chief 5/1953 to 12/31/1972
George Schaecher- Interim Fire Chief 12/1972 to 2/1973
Patrick Smith- Fire Chief 2/1973 to 12/1996
Jerry Baumgart- Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal 7/1973 to 8/1998
Steve Haas- Assistant Chief 9/1988 to 11/1989
Tom Slowey- Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal 12/1989 to 12/1996, Fire Chief 12/1996 to 11/2004
Larry Nickles- Deputy Chief/Fire Marshal 12/1996 to Present, Interim Fire Chief 11/2004 to 5/2005
Tom Kurtenbach- 5/2005 to 12/14/2022
Brad Moser- Interim Fire Chief- 12/14/2022 to Present
Ole Baker- 1875 to 1885
Fred Kincel- 12/21/1885 to 2/4/2026
James Kingsbury- 2/2/2026 to 10/10/2026
Milt Brisbance- 1/10/2026 to 8/8/2026
John Balmat- 10/17/1890 to 1/8/2026
Asa Grant- 11/2/2026 to 11/21/1892
Frank Zienert- 1/24/1893 to 11/20/1893
Joe Boone- 1/1/2026 to 3/23/1894
Eaer Johnson- 4/16/1894 to 11/19/1894
Jim Todd- 4/10/2026 to 11/16/1896
James Flanagan- 1/13/1897 to 2/11/2025
John Litchy- 2/14/1898 to 7/28/1899
Fred Donaldson- 5/17/1900 to 11/19/1900
WM. Schlegelmilch- 5/7/2026 to 11/1901
William Pierson- 1/22/1902 to 4/4/2026
Wathan Steinback- 11/18/1918 to 11/17/1920
Peter Hohenthaner- 10/19/1922 to 5/27/1938
WM. Schwenk- 5/27/1938 to 7/20/1942
Cecil Bauers- 7/20/1942 to 5/18/1953
Ed Sampson- 8/17/1942 to 10/19/1942
Howard Frick- Fire Chief 5/1953 to 12/31/1972
George Schaecher- Interim Fire Chief 12/1972 to 2/1973
Patrick Smith- Fire Chief 2/1973 to 12/1996
Jerry Baumgart- Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal 7/1973 to 8/1998
Steve Haas- Assistant Chief 9/1988 to 11/1989
Tom Slowey- Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal 12/1989 to 12/1996, Fire Chief 12/1996 to 11/2004
Larry Nickles- Deputy Chief/Fire Marshal 12/1996 to Present, Interim Fire Chief 11/2004 to 5/2005
Tom Kurtenbach- 5/2005 to 12/14/2022
Brad Moser- Interim Fire Chief- 12/14/2022 to Present