Valparaiso Fire

08/27/2026

08/21/2026

Meet Firefighter/Paramedic Hunter Yager!

This week we're introducing Firefighter/Paramedic Hunter Yager, who has proudly served with the Valparaiso Fire Department on an ambulance, or Rescue as we call it, for the past three and a half years. Hunter grew up in Kouts, Indiana, and has been a firefighter for five years.

Before becoming a firefighter, Hunter worked in construction, which is excellent foreknowledge for knowing how fire may move through a structure, knowing how different structure types hold up against fire, and gaining experience with power tools.

Hunter was inspired to become a firefighter by his father-in-law, who helped introduce him to the profession. These days, some of Hunter's favorite parts of the job are partaking in challenging training scenarios and getting to put some serious tools to work, including chainsaws and K-12 saws during roof and ventilation operations.

Although Hunter is a full-time Firefighter/Paramedic, Hunter still enjoys construction work in his free time. When he's not building something, you can probably find him golfing.

One item on Hunter's bucket list is earning his pilot’s license. If the fire department ever buys its own helicopter, Hunter will be the first one in the cockpit.

When asked what advice he would give his younger self, Hunter kept it simple:

"Be more intentional with the time you have with your family while you're off-shift."

That's advice worth listening to.

Hunter also became a dad for the first time this summer, so missing out on some Zzzzzs is both an occupational and personal experience now.
One thing Hunter wishes more people knew about life at the firehouse is that Valpo Firefighters do not have chefs. They actually determine what sounds good, hopefully before dinner time arrives, and hits up Aldi or Stracks for groceries when possible between calls. And when a call comes in while dinner is cooking, sometimes you just have to shut off the oven or grill and accept that dinner will be whatever survives the interruption.

Some of Hunter's favorite Local 1124 events are the Flower Sale and Gold Outing, because he enjoys getting the opportunity to interact with members of the community. Hunter is not only a golfer on par, but also happens to be an MVP Valpo Fire Softball outfielder.

Take a gander at some quick Hunter facts:

• Night owl, definitely not a morning person
• Movies over books
• Coffee over energy drinks
• Camping over hotels, especially since his family gets to spend time at their camper throughout the year
• Summer over winter, he really, really does not like cold weather
• Chicago Cubs fan, Go Cubs!

We're proud to have Hunter serving the Valparaiso community and appreciate his dedication, hard work, and willingness to take on whatever challenge comes his way.

08/18/2026

Congratulations to Justin Faanes and Zach Molnar on successfully completing their probationary year! We’re proud to have you both as part of the Valparaiso Fire Department, and the residents of Valparaiso are lucky to have you serving them!

08/13/2026

🚨 PLEASE — DO NOT USE GENERATORS INSIDE OR NEXT TO YOUR HOME OR BUILDING! 🚨

We are pleading with everyone to take this seriously.

Since the recent storm, we have responded to multiple calls involving elevated carbon monoxide (CO) levels. In several cases, generators were being operated inside buildings, in garages, or too close to buildings.

⚠️ Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, deadly gas. You cannot see it. You cannot smell it. And it can overcome you before you realize there is a problem.

NEVER operate a gasoline, diesel, or propane generator inside your home, garage, basement, shed, or any enclosed space.

Generators should be operated outside, well away from doors, windows, and other openings where exhaust can enter the building.

Please also make sure your carbon monoxide alarms are working and have fresh batteries.

If your generator is running right now, please go outside and check its location. Moving it away from the building could save your life — or the life of someone you love.

We know everyone is dealing with the aftermath of the storm and trying to keep their families warm, safe, and comfortable. But please don’t let a generator turn a power outage into a tragedy.

PLEASE SHARE THIS POST. You may help save a life. ❤️🚒

08/07/2026

Our annual HAZMAT refresher at the MAAC Foundation this week was, well… refreshing!

Did YOU know?? Flour can be a hazardous material? Fine flour dust in the air, especially in large amounts, can ignite and cause an explosion if there is an ignition source?

Hazardous materials come in many forms, and depending on what we’re dealing with, they can pose serious threats to our environment and our health. Some can be toxic, some can be explosive, and some can be deadly.

Properly mitigating a hazardous materials release starts with knowing what we’re dealing with, keeping people at a safe distance, and getting the right resources involved.

A big thank-you to the Porter County Emergency Management Agency for helping us stay prepared to safely respond when hazardous materials pose a threat.

08/03/2026

Valpo Fire recently trained at Ryan Fire Protection’s facility in Valparaiso. Fire alarm and fire suppression systems were examined in detail.

Firefighters respond to fire alarms that can have a multitude of causes, and determining how to address those causes requires an in-depth understanding of how various systems work.

Thank you, Ryan Fire Protection, for helping to keep safe the residents of Valparaiso!

Ryan Fire Protection

07/29/2026

🔥🚒🚑👨‍⚕️🏋️🎬📖❄️🥒⚡️🇯🇵🧺
Meet Firefighter/Paramedic Drew Jacobs!

This week we're introducing Firefighter/Paramedic Drew Jacobs, who has proudly served with the Valparaiso Fire Department for the past three years. In addition to serving our community, Drew also works as an Emergency Department Registered Nurse. Drew's got experience caring for people on some of their toughest days.

Drew says his journey into the fire service started as the "family business." With both his father and brother in the fire service, he grew up attending union events and spending time around the fire station. Before he knew it, what started out as tagging along became a career he couldn't resist.

Ask Drew what he enjoys most about the job, and you'll hear two things: training and patient care.

"As firefighters, we're always improving our skills. Getting the opportunity to make mistakes in a controlled environment helps prevent mistakes in real life."

Helping people during emergencies is something he says he's incredibly proud to do, whether that's on the fireground or in a moving ambulance.

When he's off duty, Drew enjoys reading, watching movies, weightlifting, biking, and attending concerts. He's also competed in multiple powerlifting competitions and even holds a few state records. So yes...he can help you open a pickle jar. No, don't call 911 if you can't open a pickle jar.

One accomplishment many people don't know about is that Drew is one of only two members of the Valparaiso Fire Department to complete an RN-to-Paramedic program through Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.

His bucket-list trip is Japan, and if he could go back and give his younger self one piece of advice, it would be:

"Listen to your brother more... he's usually right about everything."

One thing Drew wishes more people knew is that ambulances respond to fires, too. Every firefighter at the Valparaiso Fire Department is trained in both firefighting and emergency medical services, so it's common to see ambulance crews working alongside fire apparatus at emergency scenes.

Some of Drew's favorite Local 1124 events are the annual picnic, where he now helps create the same memories he enjoyed as a kid with his parents, and Shop with a Firefighter, because seeing the excitement on children's faces never gets old.

A few quick facts about Drew:
• Morning person, not a night owl
• Movies over books, but books are cool too
• Energy drinks, coffee nah
• Hotels over camping ("Air conditioning exists for a reason.")
• Winter beats summer (Christmas with loved ones and snowy days are hard to beat.)
• Detroit Lions fan... proving that optimism is a lifelong commitment.

We're proud to have Drew serving the Valparaiso Fire Department and thank him for his dedication, professionalism, and commitment to serving others every day.

07/28/2026

⚠️ Generator & Carbon Monoxide Safety Reminder ⚠️

Power outages can happen at any time, but using a generator improperly can be deadly.

Both portable and standby generators produce carbon monoxide (CO), an invisible, odorless gas that can quickly become fatal. If a generator is operated near an open window, in or near a garage, close to your air conditioning unit, or anywhere air can be drawn into your home, dangerous levels of CO can build up inside.

Remember: An idling vehicle in or near an attached garage can create the same deadly hazard.

Never operate a generator inside a garage, basement, or enclosed space.

Keep generators well away from doors, windows, vents, and air conditioning units.

Install carbon monoxide alarms on every level of your home and test them regularly.

A working CO alarm can provide the warning you can't smell.

Stay safe, and help spread the word by sharing this reminder with friends and family.