The 2025 Year in Review
January: Chiefs Rick Lasky and John Salka speak in Vermillion on 5 Alarm Leadership. Longtime Chancellor VFD member Harvey Joungeling retires with 61 years on the department.
February: Black Hills area firefighters help in California wildfires and get to meet Prince Harry.
March: Unusual winter conditions have made for dry wildfire conditions and fires across the state. BIA Pine Ridge Agency and Oglala Sioux Tribe perform wildfire fuels reduction projects.
April: Absolutely nothing happened in April. April Fools!! District Schools hosted around the state. Beresford VFD retrieves at cat from a tree. Dan Schmidt of Whitewood VFD honored for 50 years of service.
May: Deputy Fire Marshal Paul Coon retired! Wasta celebrates new station. Groton VFD’s Dale Ringgenberg honored for 50 years of service. New Underwood VFD and Pennington County honor Jack Dustman for 52 years of service to the area.
June: State Fire School in Watertown attracts hundreds of firefighters for the training weekend.
July: Murdo volunteer fire department suffers a line of duty death of firefighter Nick Van Dam.
August: Four Rapid City firefighters honored with National award from IAFC for actions at an incident involving a vehicle that crashed into the upper floors of an apartment building.
September: SDFA, Auxiliary, and Pennington County Fire Services hosts the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Fall Conference in Rapid City. Worthing VFD honors George Wallenstein for 50 years of service to the community.
October: Fire Marshal Paul Merriman and longtime office secretary Glenda Marks retire from public service. Rodney Foster and Tom Merrill talk at the Fall Fire Conference in Spearfish about the challenges and honor of being in the volunteer fire service
November: The rollout of the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) starts in South Dakota. Doug Hinkle named new State Fire Marshal.
December: We think back on the year. What happened, both good and unfortunate. What we learned and what we need to learn more about.
We all have memories from throughout the year. The emotions may vary from smiles, laughter, and pride, to, tears, sorrow and sadness. These events display the comradery and respect of the fire service family whether we honor learning, longevity, or loss of life.
We volunteer to help people in their time of crisis and need. When someone calls for help, they want someone, anyone, to help. When they hear voices or sirens coming, they know help is on the way. It is our responsibility to do the best we can, with what we have, for the people who are counting on us.
Sometimes, our success is a save or rescue. But yet, a recovery can still be a final closure and relief to a family.
Keep learning. Repeat to review. Train and practice with what you have. Pass along what you know or learned. We’re all in this together.
I hope your year of moments and memories will bring a smile or feeling of satisfaction.
As the Christmas comes and always, let’s all be thankful for what we have and the privilege to have had in our lives.
For all my fire service friends, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and cheers to a New Year.
From my family to yours,
Charlie & Dawn Kludt
SDFA President and First Lady of Fire