Axtell Volunteer Fire & Rescue

05/31/2026

Congrats to Jake Zahl, Ty Fickenscher, Joseph Fickenscher, Tyler Kratzer & Kyle Hort for completing their Wildland Firefighter Course. The course involved two weekends back in March plus 3 online modules that had to be passed. The final test out was thier Red Card Pack Test - a 3 mile walk with a 45 pound weighted pack in under 45 minutes.

05/21/2026

Good Luck to the Axtell Track & Field athletes competing at state! Always an honor to es**rt them out of town!!

05/20/2026

In honor of EMS week we thought we should introduce you to the EMTs on our Department.

In no particular order:

Shawn Soderquist- 20 years as an EMT
His Why - too serve our community

Travis Arner - 6 years as an EMT
His Why - He felt if was the right thing to do for the community & the department.

Jeff Nelson - 24 years as an EMT
His Why - he was an Emergency Medical Responder and decided to bridge up to EMT to better serve the department.

Mitch Petersen - 14 years as an EMT & current Unit Captain
His Why - I became an EMT because for one, my dad was and that was something I always looked up to my him for doing. The second reason is because of the first incident I ever went on as a fireman. I decided on that call that I was going to become an EMT so that I can do everything I can to help people when they need it most.

Pat Philippi - 6 years as an EMT, 5 as an EMS instructor & Assistant Unit Captain
Her Why - My dad was an EMT in Falls City when I was younger, I became a lifeguard in high school, eventually getting my lifeguard instructor. The next natural thing was to get my EMT license and then was talked into getting my instructor cert too......

05/19/2026

In honor of EMS week we thought we should introduce you to the EMTs on our Department.

In no particular order:

Nichole Rollins - 11 years as an EMT.
Her Why - I grew up in a family of nurses and EMT's primarily my grandpa and dad. Always wanted to be like them but was scared to when I had the chance. I was at a parade when I heard a call for help, an elderly male had fallen in the bathroom. My grandpa was with me but had a bad day and getting across the park would have been a challenge. I ran to the street hollered for my dad as loud as I could who was at the other end of the block then took off to help not knowing fully what the heck to do. That was when I decided I didn't care I was going to be an EMT.

Jeff England - 31 years as an EMT & 25 years as an EMS Instructor.
His Why - Wanting to serve the community of Axtell and provide a level of medical care to our citizens.
Yes that's him in that HazMat suit during HazMat training in 2019

05/19/2026

In honor of EMS week we thought we should introduce you to the EMTs on our Department.

In no particular order:

Ty Fickenscher - 17 years as an EMT
His Why - Dad was an EMT and Joe was delivered by an EMT. Want to serve others.

Joe Fickenscher - 1st year as an EMT
HIs Why - Growing up around the department, I have always looked up to the men and women who serve our community. Naturally, I wanted to be part of that effort and pay forward their leadership, which has guided me and formed me into the individual I am today.

I thank Axtell Fire & Rescue for teaching me how to serve, and the community of Axtell for your unending support. (and thankful for the EMTs who delivered him)....

Gavan Ericson - 5 years as an EMT
His Why - Saw a need to more EMTs after he had joined the department & wanted to be more prepared to help someone in a time of need, should it ever arise

04/25/2026

Axtell Fire had two firefighters last night - Jacob Zahl & Mitch Petersen, and two firefighters tonight - Tyrell Fickenscher & Joseph Fickenscher assisting other members of the South Central Wildland Taskforce at the Pressey Fire near Oconto.

Axtell will be working alongside SCWT members that include Holbrook-Arapahoe-Edison, Wilsonville-Hendley, Alma and Oxford for a 12 hour operational period tonight, with relief crews scheduled for the following night.

Please keep all first responders in your prayers and be safe out there!

04/17/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Pancake Feed to help raise funds for the All-American Celebration firework display.

BUT

We need your help! The All-American Celebration firework display is funded by contributions from the community to the Axtell Fire Department. This is an expensive show, and fireworks are always getting more expensive. More than ever, we need your help to keep this show going!

If you feel compelled to do so, follow the link below to give to our official Venmo account. Any amount helps, and all donations are greatly appreciated!

https://account.venmo.com/u/axtellfire

04/17/2026

Busy week helping other departments:

Wednesday morning (I'm sure some of you heard the town sirens at 3:30am)....We got paged as a part of the Quad Cities Mutual Aid group to help Franklin with the fire in Bloomington. FF who were able to assist were - Jake Zahl, Kyle Hort, Mitch Petersen & Tyler Kratzer.

Thursday we were able to send Mitch Petersen & Joey Thorell to help with the fire in Sumner.

07/28/2025

State Fire Marshal Training on the new NERIS fire reporting system for Nebraska. At the Axtell Fire Station this Thursday, July 31st, starting at 6:00 p.m. Please come and get the information you need to convert your department by 2026.

05/05/2024