When did we start?
Yankton Fire Department was started in 1874 as South Dakota's first Bucket Brigade.
On October 25, 2025 the North Side Fire CO. No.3 was organized.
Yankton Fire Department was started in 1874 as South Dakota's first Bucket Brigade.
On October 25, 2025 the North Side Fire CO. No.3 was organized.
The Yankton Volunteer Fire Department employs two full-time, one part-time employee, and forty volunteer firefighters who are on call and ready to respond 24 hours a day.
Firefighters meet for scheduled trainings on two Monday evenings every month and whenever other opportunities arise.
A department business meeting is held on another Monday evening every month, proving the time and dedication it takes to be a volunteer. Many of the firefighters have been volunteering for 15 years, 20 years, 25 years and longer.
Firefighters meet for scheduled trainings on two Monday evenings every month and whenever other opportunities arise.
A department business meeting is held on another Monday evening every month, proving the time and dedication it takes to be a volunteer. Many of the firefighters have been volunteering for 15 years, 20 years, 25 years and longer.
Social events are an important part of who we are.
A public open house is held on an evening during National Fire Prevention Week every October. Numerous firefighters visit the public and private schools all during that week to contact hundreds of school children and educate them on the importance of fire safety and prevention.
The fire department hosts an annual dinner for the employers of volunteer firefighters who generously let their firefighter employees leave work when the pager calls.
Another annual dinner invites retired firefighters to the station to show appreciation for the years of volunteer service they put in before hanging up their fire hats.
The volunteer firefighters hold annual fundraisers to raise the revenue necessary to fund the volunteer association, which is not included in any city or rural budgeting.
Current fundraisers include a donation request mail-out that is sent to all property owners in our service area.
A public open house is held on an evening during National Fire Prevention Week every October. Numerous firefighters visit the public and private schools all during that week to contact hundreds of school children and educate them on the importance of fire safety and prevention.
The fire department hosts an annual dinner for the employers of volunteer firefighters who generously let their firefighter employees leave work when the pager calls.
Another annual dinner invites retired firefighters to the station to show appreciation for the years of volunteer service they put in before hanging up their fire hats.
The volunteer firefighters hold annual fundraisers to raise the revenue necessary to fund the volunteer association, which is not included in any city or rural budgeting.
Current fundraisers include a donation request mail-out that is sent to all property owners in our service area.
Timeline of Some Events 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 & Current Command
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