Local Firefighters Complete Months-Long Training to Strengthen Rural Emergency Response

The City of Lidgerwood is proud to recognize a group of dedicated volunteer firefighters who have successfully completed their Firefighter I certification after months of intensive training.

A total of 25 participants from Lidgerwood, Hankinson, Rutland-Cayuga, Great Bend, and Claire City committed to the program, meeting every Monday night since early December for hands-on training sessions lasting three to four hours.

“This class is a time-intensive commitment,” said Rick Jorgenson, who assisted with the training. “Our group has put in about 50 hours of hands-on training alone, and that doesn’t include the time spent studying on their own.”

The Firefighter I certification follows the nationally recognized standards of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1001, requiring both classroom learning and hands-on skill development. Participants must complete 29 practical skills, Fire Ground Evolutions, and additional training in hazardous materials, live fire response, first aid, and incident command.

Training covered a wide range of essential firefighting skills, including advancing hoses into structures, search and rescue techniques, ladder setup, and working with specialized equipment. One of the most challenging components for many trainees was learning to operate a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), which requires both skill and confidence under pressure.

The program was organized and led by Lidgerwood Fire Department Training Officer Scott Wettstein, who emphasized the value of both the training and the teamwork it built among departments.

“It’s been fun to watch this group come together,” Wettstein said. “I’ve really enjoyed getting to know members from other departments and watching how they interact as a team, even though they’re from different communities.”

Wettstein noted that coordinating the training also helped him grow in his role.

“Assisting weekly has taught me a lot about my role as training officer and helped strengthen my own skills,” he said. “It takes a tremendous amount of support to make something like this come together.”

While the training is required for Lidgerwood Fire Department members, it was also opened to surrounding communities to help strengthen regional emergency response.

“We’re fortunate to have the ability and trained personnel to offer this,” Jorgenson said. “By opening it up to other departments, we’re helping them get their firefighters the training they need. That benefits both the firefighters and the public they serve.”

Wettstein credited the success of the program to the many firefighters and instructors who volunteered their time each week.

“It takes a commitment of good people to pull this off,” he said. “Their dedication made this possible, and I look forward to continuing to serve alongside our newest trainees.”

As many rural departments across the country face staffing challenges, programs like this play a critical role in maintaining strong, well-trained volunteer fire services.

“The future looks really good right now for us,” Jorgenson said. “We’ve been able to maintain strong numbers and high training standards because of the quality of our people.”

👉 Be sure to watch for next week’s News Monitor (April 22, 2026) for additional coverage featuring this training and the firefighters who made it possible.