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New York Mills fire chiefs report surge in calls; council reviews training and staffing needs
Summary
Fire Chief Roder told the council the department responded to 41 calls in March and is on pace for a record number of calls year-to-date (88 vs. 54 last year), prompting concern about fatigue; the council acknowledged training plans and cross‑agency coordination.
Fire Chief Roder told the New York Mills City Council on April 14 that the fire department responded to 41 calls in March — 31 medical calls, seven structure fires (three house fires), one motor‑vehicle accident, one missing person and one mutual‑aid response — and that by the end of March the department had responded to 88 calls year‑to‑date compared with 54 at the same point last year.
Chief Roder said training in March included work with the Otter Tail County Drug Task Force on recognizing illegal drugs, treating patients and potential firefighter exposure; upcoming training will cover gas and pipeline safety, head trauma treatment and pump operations, with the possibility of a wildland training depending on conditions. The minutes record concern about fatigue and burnout among department members, and officers said they are evaluating ways to relieve stress while maintaining service levels.
Council acknowledged the report and moved to record receipt and review of the Fire Department report. The minutes show the council offered no formal direction beyond accepting the report; no staffing increases or budgetary changes were recorded at this meeting.
The council received multiple departmental reports at the meeting, and the fire department update was one of several operational briefings that included police and public works reports.
