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Dylan Spaethe is the newest member of the Pipestone Fire Department. He was approved in August and will begin training later this fall. Photo by Kyle Kuphal
Dylan Spaethe is the newest member of the Pipestone Fire Department. He will serve on the fire department’s engine company.
The 24-year-old Pipestone native said his father inspired him to become a firefighter.
“My dad’s been on the fire department in Iowa for about 10 plus years now and whenever his pager goes off I just get that ambition to go with him, so I figured it was my time to follow in his footsteps,” Spaethe said.
The Pipestone City Council approved him as a firefighter on Aug. 18. He was also approved by the fire department and had to pass a series of tests. Spaethe said the tests included standing in a dark closet with all the firefighting gear on for a few minutes, climbing the ladder on the ladder truck with the gear on, dragging a charged hose, dragging a dummy and climbing the stairs at Nokomis Apartments with all the fire fighting gear on.
Spaethe will begin firefighter training later this year. Much of the training is done remotely, but there is also some hands on training in Slayton, he said. For now, Spaethe can go with on calls if there’s room, but he is limited as far as what he can do until he’s completed his training. He hadn’t gone on any calls yet when he spoke to the Pipestone County Star.
“I’m waiting for that first one,” he said.
Spaethe said the part of being a firefighter that he’s most looking forward to is giving back to the community.
Aside from serving as a volunteer firefighter, Spaethe works for Hord Farms at the feed mill in Pipestone. He describes himself as a hard working guy and a go getter. In his free time, he enjoys hunting pheasants, deer and coyotes.
Anyone interested in joining the fire department can find applications online at www.progressivepipestone.com/267/Fire-Department, at city hall and at the fire hall.