HASTINGS — Three new firefighters were sworn into service with Hastings Fire and Rescue during the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 25.
The members of the 2022-23 Academy Class were Bryce Bottolfson, Rachel Hefta and Matthew Schreiber.
Fire Chief Brad Starling said that the fire department is full of traditions and list several, including pushing a new engine into the station, raising and lowering the flag every day, the helmet ceremony, red fire trucks, bells, Dalmatians, etc.
Starling said the swearing in ceremony is another of those traditions and taking an oath makes the new firefighters’ full members of the department’s family.
“Today has a lot of purpose,” said Starling, “they have taken the first steps into a lifetime of public service.”
The new firefighters would be swearing before the Hastings community, their families and the other firefighters. “It’s a big deal,” Starling said.
Not only do their actions impact themselves, but their families as well, as they are just impacted, said Starling.
When asking the veterans members about some of the thing’s firefighters sacrifice, they said family time, holidays, while someone quipped, sleep.
Starling said the sacrifice is not made without purpose and that a large amount of good can come from it, they might even save someone’s life.
The fire department creates their own family, made up of the volunteers, Starling noted, while their families get to join the larger group of family members of firefighters.
Hastings Mayor Corey Stutte said that Hastings is a great community and it is the members of the Fire and Rescue team that help make it that way.
Stutte added that the sacrifice made by the firefighters would not be possible without their families who support them day in and day out.
He offered his congratulations to the new members and said the wider Hastings community cares about them and their actions.
The swearing in was conducted by City Clerk Kim Jacobitz and the badge pinning was done by a chosen loved one of the new firefighters.
In Schreiber’s case, it was his grandmother who fastened the badge to his chest.
A closing prayer was offered by Chaplain Eddie Goff and then the families of the new members were invited to tour the facility.
Hastings Fire and Rescue employs four administrative staff and 27 full-time firefighters who are supplemented by up to 7 part-time firefighters. Crews respond from Station One and Station Two, offering fire protection for 13.67 square miles and more than 25,000 people, per their website.
“The City of Hastings Fire and Rescue Department is mission-driven to “protect life, property, and environment through response, training, inspection, and educational programs.” We are an All-Hazards department, responding to medical emergencies, fires, hazardous materials incidents, and technical rescues. Additionally, we know that prevention is a cornerstone of a safe community, and we work hard to prevent emergencies through plan reviews, code enforcement, and public safety education,” per the Fire and Rescue’s website.
