City of Albert Lea Fire Department

History:

The Albert Lea Bucket Brigade was organized by a group of volunteers on November 22, 1870 and consisted of 30 volunteers. Soon after, the city saw a need for a better organization to protect the citizens. On August 5, 1879, the Albert Lea Fire Department was organized under Chief F.B. Fobes.

The first fire station was at the corner of Main Street and Washington adjacent to what was then City Hall. The apparatus consisted of a steam engine water pump and two hose carts which were pulled by horses to the scene until 1891 when the waterworks system was completed. In 1903 a new City Hall was built on North Broadway and also housed the Fire Department on two floors. The first motor driven water pump truck was put into service August 18, 1918 and lead a new era of apparatus used for firefighting.

On May 1, 1948 the department went to a fully paid organization in order to better serve residents and businesses.  The Fire Department moved to its present location at 221 East Clark St. in the City Center in 1968. The City entered into an agreement with the Albert Lea Township Fire Department on October 15, 1991 to become a combination department, with the Township acting as part-time firefighters for the City Fire Department.                                                        

                                                 ALFD CHIEFS:

• FB FOBES  1879-1879
• WC MITCHELL  1879-1912
• AF WOHLHUTER  1912-1914
• HENERY STOTZ  1914-1919
• HENERY SOTHAND  1919-1925  (referred to as Chief SOTH)
• ALEC LARSON  1925-1946
• JOE SPARK  1946-1967
• ELDON WETTLAUFFER  1967-1967  (referred to as Chief CURLY)
  (died as fire chief July 4, 1967)
• EVERETT GRINOLDS  1967-1985
• ORRION ROISEN  1985-1997
• RICHARD SYDNES  1997-2005  (referred to as Chief SYD)
• PAUL STIELER  2005-Present