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Vergas Fire/Rescue Department, 120 W Linden Street, Vergas, MN (2026)

04/15/2026

Come check this out May 2nd in Detroit Lakes. Local women fire fighters will be sharing there experience and training along with hands on.

This is a great opportunity to check out the fire service and some gear and tools.

04/10/2026

🚨🚑Rescue Member of the Week 🚑🚨

Our rescue member of the week is Nicole Weldon

𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞: 2 years

𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: I love being on the department to help our community. I have always loved this town, so to help out where I can feels great. The rush of the pager going off and jumping into action. I love meeting new people that i havent met already, I’ve been working in customer service since moving here 19 years ago. This is a really great team to work with and learn from. Seeing the firemen and rescue members jump into action and do what they do is amazing to watch.

𝐅𝐮𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐞: I am a Grandmother of 4. I always wanted to go into nursing but life had different plans. I think about how much time I took to think about joining the department. I see now that I waited too long, I should have much earlier in life as I enjoy it so much.

Thank you Nicole for your service, your sacrifice, and for being there when it matters most. Nicoles hard work, dedication and knowledge has recently landed her as Assistant Chief of the rescue squad. We couldn’t ask for a better Assistant Chief.

04/04/2026

***EDIT***RESCHEDULED FOR APRIL 25TH
After talking to someone from the Sheriff's Department, State Patrol, and a couple snow plow drivers, T.I.P. and I have decided to postpone Purse Bingo. Although some areas may seem fine, there are several that are not, and there have been a number of incident reports. This is not by any means the decision were hoping for, but everyone's safety is always going to be our top priority. I will announce this week when the rescheduled date will be.

03/31/2026

We conducted a training burn last night of 41 acres. This helps the owner of the land greatly but helps the FD greatly too. We learn fire behavior and tactics that help us incase of a real wildland fire. We learn how to put a wet line down and back burn as there’s times we have to fight fire with fire. In the middle of it we we were called to help dent with a barn fire. Great work fellas! More pics and videos in comments

03/28/2026

With much of the snow gone and plants yet to green up, fuels will be ready to burn tomorrow afternoon. Southwesterly winds at 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph at times, along with relative humidity values in the low 20s and dry fuels will make fire danger critical tomorrow. A Red Flag warning is in effect for portions of southeastern North Dakota and west central Minnesota. Avoid burning and use caution when disposing of smoking materials.

03/27/2026

🚒🔥𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 🔥🚒

Our fireman of the week is Nate Hoffman

𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞: 12 years

𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: The camaraderie among the Fire and Rescue Department volunteers and the friendships formed with people I might not have otherwise had the opportunity to connect with.

𝐅𝐮𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭/𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐞: Both of my Great, Great Grandpas were founders of the Vergas Fire Department in 1905. William (Billie) Sauer (Chief) and Edmund Pausch (Secretary). Billie had Badge #1. They also commissioned the first fire truck in 1938.

Thank you Nate for your courage, your sacrifice, and your unwavering commitment to keeping others safe. Your many hours volunteered do not go unnoticed.

03/26/2026

Congratulations to our two newest FF’s. Levi Kruzel and Derek Zitzow have spent the last few months training and are now certified in FF1, FF2 and Haz Mat. It’s a lot of work and time these young men put in for our community. Both these young men were born and raised here in Vergas.

Levi serves with his first cousin's Nathan Hoffman & Jeremy Lahr also on the Dept.

Derek is a 4th generation FF in Vergas and currently serves with his dad (jeff) and two uncles. ( kevin and nic)

Congrats fellas and thanks for all your hard work and dedication to our community.

03/12/2026

🚒🔥𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 🔥🚒

Our fireman of the week is Payton Lautenschlager

𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞: 7 years

𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Being a part of a great group of people that all care about being there for the community when they need it most.

𝐅𝐮𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭/𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐭𝐨𝐧: I am licensed to officiate marriages in the state of Minnesota.

Payton not only spends many hours at meetings and trainings. He also runs our annual fishing tournament. Thank you Payton for your service, sacrifice, and being there when it matters most.

02/27/2026

🚒🔥𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 🔥🚒

Our fireman of the week is Tyler Sazama

𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞: 13 years

𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Working alongside the great crew we have on the Vergas Fire & Rescue Department.

𝐅𝐮𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭/𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐓𝐲𝐥𝐞𝐫: I enjoy hunting and target shooting with my kids in my free time

Tyler may be a man of few words, but definitely is a jack of all trades. Tyler helps in making sure the fire trucks are always ready and in tip top shape. If you see Tyler in the community, be sure to thank him for his dedication to the department!

02/12/2026

🚒🔥𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 🔥🚒

Our fireman of the week is Butch Zitzow

𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞: 11 years

𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 o𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Obviously being there for the community. There is no bigger rush than being in a fire truck and people see you and respect you. They know we are volunteering our time to help someone on their worst day.

𝐅𝐮𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭/𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐁𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐡: Twenty plus years ago I was at a music festival and witnessed a turkey fryer start on fire right next to a bus. I watched several people attempt to put the fire out with water and fire extinguishers with no luck. Out of nowhere, a shirtless man carrying a flamingo beer b**g set a beer box on top of the fryer and the fire was instantly out. It was priceless.

If you see Butch in the community, be sure to thank him for his many hours volunteered. Between calls, trainings, and meetings it can feel never ending at times. Thank you Butch for your passion and ongoing dedication to the department.

01/31/2026

🚒🔥𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 🔥🚒

Our fireman of the week is Bobbi Hoffmann

𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞: 10 years

𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 o𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Of course the sense of community and being there for people on there worst days. The comradery within the department its like a second family. But one of my favorite parts is the physical and mental strengths that comes with every call. Some calls you are pushing your body and mind to the limit in extreme temperatures or environments. You are doing hard work and pushing yourself. No call is the same so you need a good team with great communication and we have that!

𝐅𝐮𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐢: When my pager goes off and it’s just me and my son he yells "FIRE" and runs to the car where his grandma meets us at the hall.

Thank you Bobbi for your time, strength and ongoing dedication to the department. Your many hours of meetings, training, calls don’t go unnoticed!

11/21/2025

🚨🚑Rescue Member of the Week 🚑🚨

Our rescue member of the week is Theresa Harthun

𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞: 23 years

𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Taking care of the community and knowing you are making a difference in someone’s life. The department is such a family making it even more fun to be apart of.

𝐅𝐮𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐚: I am a licensed EMT, certified to teach CPR, EMT & EMR classes all while being on Vergas Rescue and being the Dent Rescue Chief.

Theresa is such a wealth of knowledge and truly has helped develop our rescue squad to what it is today. Be sure to thank Theresa for all her time and dedication to not only our community, but to all the communities who have learned from her knowledge.

Vergas Fire/Rescue Department