Lake City Fire Department

08/19/2026

With harvest season right around the corner, the training crew at Lake City Fire Department has been working hard to make sure we’re ready—just in case. 🚒🌾

Tonight, Ag Partners loaned us one of their grain bins so we could train and discuss strategies for an emergency requiring a rescue from above. Our firefighters participated in high-angle rescue training using our ladder truck and ropes equipment. Two groups of rescuers were lowered into the grain bin from more than 85 feet in the air, giving our members the opportunity to practice the many different roles needed during a technical rescue of this complex nature—including Incident Command, Safety Officer, technical rescue crews, ground rigging operations, apparatus staging, communication protocols, and more.

If you need our help on the farm this year, we’ll be ready.

The 22 volunteer firefighters of the LCFD train year-round to prepare for whatever this region throws at us—from farm accidents to river rescues in the freezing cold or scorching heat, to grass fires, to fully involved barns, sheds, and homes, to vehicle and motorcycle accidents, and technical rope rescues like tonight… whatever the call, whatever your worst day brings you, we train to be ready.

A big thank you to Ag Partners for working with us and giving our firefighters the opportunity to train in a real-world environment. We had a great night climbing around, learning, and preparing for the call we hope never comes. 🌾🚒

If you have a suggestion or a resource for us to train with, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

08/01/2026

Today, the Lake City Fire Department is honored to raise our American flag over the Lake City VFW in recognition of a very special occasion.

Congratulations to Monty Vikdal on his promotion to the rank of Captain in the United States Navy.

This achievement reflects years of dedicated service, leadership, and commitment to our country. On behalf of the members of the Lake City Fire Department, we extend our sincere congratulations and gratitude to Captain Vikdal for his service.

07/21/2026

07/14/2026

An outpouring of support is emerging from the Wabasha community following a fatal boating accident Saturday.

READ: https://www.kttc.com/2026/07/14/wabasha-community-rallies-after-fatal-boating-accident/

07/14/2026

On July 11 at 11:59 p.m., the Lake City Fire Department was dispatched to Lake Pepin in response to calls for help off the Wisconsin shoreline.

The Lake City Fire Boat was the first vessel on the scene and discovered a capsized pontoon with three passengers on top. After the occupants were brought aboard, the patients were assessed by a firefighter/paramedic. The passengers reported that three additional people were unaccounted for. A brief search was conducted for the other passengers before the decision was made to transport the three patients to a higher level of medical care. Crews were met in Pepin by Pepin EMS and the Pepin Fire Department.

Additional searches of the area were conducted throughout the night by Lake City Fire, Pepin Fire, Red Wing Fire, Goodhue Fire, the Wabasha County Sheriff’s Office, the Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office, Wabasha Fire, and multiple civilian watercraft using sonar. By daybreak, even more agencies had arrived on the scene. A unified command post was established at the Lake City Marina by the Lake City Emergency Operations Center. A separate Wisconsin command post was also established, as the Wisconsin DNR was responsible for investigating the crash.

The Minnesota command post was staffed by Lake City Fire, the Wabasha County Sheriff’s Office, and Olmsted County deputies and remained in constant communication with Wisconsin command. Throughout the day, extensive searches of the lake were conducted. The searches were closely coordinated through unified command using shared technology.

That evening, after many points of interest had been explored, the final three passengers were located by sonar and their locations were confirmed using advanced underwater technology. The three passengers were brought to shore by county and state agencies.

This was an incredibly intensive search, and nearly every fire department and county and state agency imaginable responded to the scene. It was an emotionally taxing 18 hours because the passengers were known within the public safety community. They are our family.

Our hearts are once again heavy with tragic loss. We could not be prouder to have been able to respond to our brothers and sister in need. We will mourn with you. We will grieve with you. We will even feed you. We see you, WFD, and we are here.

In total, 22 agencies launched from the Lake City Marina alone. Many other agencies responded from across the region, including drone teams, helicopter crews, dive teams, and search teams. There are too many people to thank, and I would surely forget some. Many agencies were there that I did not even know had responded.

The search was a large-scale operation, and this is only our story. Many selfless people showed up to help.

-Chief Dan Patterson
and the Lake City Fire Department