The Yankton Volunteer Fire Department proudly serves the ISO Class 3 rated City of Yankton, South Dakota and surrounding area, including Lewis & Clark Lake, a reservoir on the Missouri River. Our area covers 165 square miles in South Dakota and neighboring Nebraska.
Our staff includes a full-time Fire Chief, a Deputy Fire Chief, and a part-time Community Risk Reduction Officer, in addition to 40 volunteer firefighters which include a Assistant Fire Chief, 4 Captain's, a Safety Officer, and a Fire Prevention Officer.
Station One is located near historic downtown and just four blocks from the river. This station features a six-bay apparatus floor that houses one city engine, one city ladder truck, one rural engine, one rural tanker, a brush truck, an ATV brush unit and a HazMat / Rescue truck.
Station Two is in the center of Yankton, housing our administrative offices along with one city engine, two rural tankers, an incident command vehicle.
Also located at Station Two is the Fire Museum that houses many relics that shows how the fire service and the fire department has progressed over the past 100+ years such as fire gear, SCBA, and many others. Some of these relics include a restored 1937 Luverne pumper, and a 1925 American LaFrance .
A third station is located approximately five miles west of Yankton near the entrance to Lewis & Clark Recreation Area, and houses a rural pumper, one rural tanker, a special response truck, and an ATV brush unit.
Fire prevention and education is an important aspect of our business. Our fire safety trailer teaches hundreds of children each year how to crawl low under smoke and find an escape. We also give demonstrations and bring equipment to kindergarten through third grade classes in Yankton every October during fire prevention week. Our annual open house gives the entire community an opportunity to visit our station and get a glimpse of what we do.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter, please visit our "Resources" page for an application!