Chief’s Message

The Roseville Fire Department continues to have a busy and active 2023.  Our structure fire incidents are up compared to this same time in 2022, so please be mindful of fire safety at home.  As we approach the back end of the winter months it is still important to remember fire safety in our home in these cold months.  And as the recent snowstorm in February showed, we have to take certain precautions to prepare for the unexpected.  In November’s monthly report I wrote about family escape planning.  Please remember to keep all doors and windows that could be used for an escape route clear of snow and ice. Remember to use flashlights, not candles, if you experience a power outage.  Work to keep all exterior vents (dryer, furnace, oven, and fireplace) clear of snow, ice and debris.  And keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heat sources, especially space heaters.  Remembering and putting to practice these important safety tips can significantly reduce your risk of a fire in your home. For more information about winter fire safety check out the NFPA's resources.

For those that have hydrants on your property, please help be the first responder’s first responder by clearing around hydrants to help improve our access to them.  Every second counts in a fire and a delay of much needed water due to a buried hydrant could be catastrophic.  Help us and those around you by making sure the hydrant is clear of snow on all sides and visible to firefighters.

Fire Explorers

Our fire Explorer group has been busy learning and training on many different fire and EMS skills. In February they met two times and worked on bleeding control and first aid. This summer the Explorers will play a pivotal role during our community events. If you see them around town, say hello! If you, or someone you know, is interested in joining Fire Explorers please reach out to Emily at emily.nelson@cityofroseville.com.

Dorm Fire

Crews responded to a structure fire at a University of Northwestern residence hall and extinguished a kitchenette blaze on Tuesday, February 7.
Upon arrival, the building alarm was sounding and students and staff had already exited the building.

Crews searched the building and discovered a fire burning atop a kitchenette on the third floor. Firefighters doused the blaze with water and ventilated the unit, removing smoke. The fire was contained to the one unit.
No injuries were reported, but a resident room in the building sustained fire and smoke damage. An adjacent hallway also sustained minor smoke damage. 

This month our department's training was focused on Cardiac Arrest, Occupational Health and again Victim Rescue.  

Cardiac Arrest (when someone's heart stops beating) affects 1,000 people every day in the US.  Early detection, early CPR, early defibrillation, early advanced care and rapid transport all give the patient the best chance of survival.  

The department also spent some time on Occupational Health.  A vital tool to any firefighter is their body.  We worked on proper lifting techniques, repetitive motion injuries and other common injury prevention techniques.  

Lastly we again spent much of our Fire Type training on Victim Rescue.  We built on our techniques from January and added in our full gear, decreased visibility and other stressors to challenge our firefighters.