The Minnesota State Fire Department Association (MSFDA) has been awarded $1.4 million in funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program to improve the recruitment of volunteer firefighters in Minnesota.
We can assist you with marketing and onboarding new firefighters and possibly reimburse you for turnout gear and health screenings for your new hires.
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Step 1 - Fill out the form below and an MSFDA representative will contact you!
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Step 2 - Sign up for a one-hour training session
Minnesota State
Fire Department Association
Minnesota Fire Department Regions
President - Alan Newman
MSFDA Director - Dan Ober
C: 757-655-1206
Secretary - Joe Carpentier
C: 651-226-5473
Treasurer - Kip Springer
C: 651-675-5902
Upcoming Meetings:
All meetings will be at Lake Elmo FD - 3880 Laverne Ave. N. Lake Elmo, MN 55042
Meetings start at 6 pm
Bylaws:
MSFDA Rep - Calvin Larson
President - Calvin Larson
Vice President - Marty Semanko
Secretary/Treasurer - Bill Batchelder bill.batchelder@hotmail.com
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
2nd Thursday of April and September.
September 10, 2026 - Erskine
Social Hour 5:30 pm
Board Meeting 6:30 pm
Dinner and Regional Meeting 7 PM
President - Travis Cole
Vice President - Adam Mannausau
adamm@ci.international-falls.mn.us
Secretary - Rex Lentner
MSFDA Rep - Steve Shykes
All future meetings of the Arrowhead Region Association will be 2-per year-scheduled for the 1st Thursday of May, and the 1st Thursday of December of each year.
5-5:30 pm - Advisory Commitee Meeting
5 pm Registration 6-8 pm Meeting Contact Arrowhead secretary Rex Lentner for questions at arrowheadregion@outlook.com or 218-263-3800
MSFDA Rep. - Travis Olson
701-412-1915
President
Dave Coufal
701-238-5519
Vice President
Travis Olson
701-412-1915
Secretary
John Kostynick
Upcoming Meetings:
Thursday, August 27, 2026 - Frazee Event Center - 114 Lake Street N, Frazee, MN
Social Hour 6 pm
Meal 6:45 pm with Training/Meeting to follow
President - Chip Lohmiller fire@crosslake.net
Vice President - Brian Pisarak brian.pisarek@state.mn.us
MSFDA Rep. - Mike Schwankl chief@pequotlakesfiredistrict.com
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
Brainerd Fire Station #1
23 Laurel Street
Brainerd, MN 56401
President - Matt Daniels 320-424-1645
Vice President
Philip Zimpel
Secretary/Treasurer- Jeff Drais 320-290-7360
MSFDA Rep - Matt Daniels 320-424-1645
Upcoming Meetings:
March 2026
September 2006
Meetings start promptly at 7 pm on the evening scheduled. Location is predetermined by the host department. Host department offers a dinner which serving starts at 6:30 pm. Meeting information is sent out to all members by the Secretary/Treasurer prior to each meeting.
President - David Kooiman
Vice President - Zach Reed zreed@ci.chisago.mn.us
Secretary - Jake Vodenka-Reed chief@taylorsfalls.org
MSFDA Rep. - Nick Shatek nick.shatek@gmail.com
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
October 8, 2026 - Dalbo FD
Meal at 6:30. Meeting starts at 7 pm.
REGION 7 NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Conference Scholarship Application/Info
Scholarships available for the MSFDA and MSFCA Conferences. Click the link for more details and application.
Region Expense Requisition Form
Bylaws:
Region 8 is currently inactive. If you are interested in reactivating this region contact Mark Rosenblum at valleyfire25@yahoo.com or 612-597-2096.
MSFDA Rep. - Tim Seehusen
320-522-0191
President - Brandon Raymo
320-226-0828
braymo22@gmail.com or westcentralfiregmail.com
Vice-President - Ryan Tostenson
320-226-1810
Secretary/Treas. - Allen Jacobson
320-321-2509
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
Monday, May 18, 2026 - Granite Falls
Dinner at 6:30 pm, meeting at 7 pm.
Bylaws:
President - Dean Nelson
320-296-1102
nels821@hotmail.com
Vice President - Dale Grochow 612-419-0192
dmgrochow@xtratyme.com
Secretary/Treasurer - Carol Nelson 320-296-4020
deancalolnelson@gmail.com
MSFDA Rep. - Dale Grochow 612-419-0192
dmgrochow@xtratyme.com
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
Saturday, May 2, 2026 - Fire Training Event - 8am-4 pm - Hutchinson Armory. Meeting to proceed training.
Region 11 is currently inactive. If you are interested in reactivating this region contact Ryan Yttreness at ryttreness@shakopeemn.gov or 952-215-9617
MSFDA Rep. - Bob Van Lith 763-276-4203
MSFDA Rep. - Jason Forshee
jasonf@ci.waseca.mn.us 507-461-0416
President - Chris Meskan
Secretary - Patrick Anderson
Upcoming Meetings:
June 9, 2026 - Pemberton
September 8, 2026 - St. Clair
December 8, 2026 - St. Peter
The meal is served at 7 PM and the meeting starts at 7:30 PM.
President - Jordan Siebenahler 507-290-0234
Vice President - Jared Hively 507-829-0612
Secretary/Treasurer - Daren Pedersen
507-828-7156
MSFDA Rep. - Jared Hively
507-829-0612
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
April 27, 2026 - Hardwick FD
Meal at 7 pm - Meeting at 7:30 pm
President - Gary Reed
greed@nussgrp.com
Vice President - Joe Thulien 507-317-5641
Secretary/Treasurer - Josh Schoener 507-469-4660
jschoender@madeliahealth.org
MSFDA Rep. - Jay Kopischke
507-829-0612
jkopischke@mankatomn.gov
Upcoming Meetings:
July 21, 2026 - Welcome
October 20, 2026 - Wells
Registration/Dinner at 6:30 pm, Meeting starts at 7:30 pm
Bylaws:
President - Paul Corcoran
Vice President - Chris Shuh
Secretary/Treasurer - Rodney Merchlewitz rodm@digicominc.com
MSFDA Rep - Jason Fife
507-244-8275
Region email: msfdaregion15@gmail.com
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
