Photo copyright Silver Tree Studios.
The Mount Horeb Area Joint Fire Department consists of around 70 members - primarily volunteers. The Fire Department was established on December 1st, 1890. In 1976, the Mount Horeb Volunteer Fire Department expanded with the addition of an Emergency Medical Service at the Basic level. In 2012 our EMS service advanced to an Advanced EMT Level for the primary rescue. In 2021 we began to offer an occasional paramedic flex staffing.
Sometimes referred to as the FDMH, the Mount Horeb Area Joint Fire Department and EMS have continued to offer service to not only the Village of Mount Horeb, but also: Village of Blue Mounds, Town of Blue Mounds, Town of Springdale, Town of Vermont, Town of Primrose, Town of Perry and Town of Cross Plains. Our governing body is the Mount Horeb Area Joint Fire Department (MHAJFD) Board of Directors. The MHAJFD Board of Directors is comprised of a representative from each of the six Townships, one from the Village of Blue Mounds and two from the Village of Mount Horeb.
With a rich sense of history, our apparatus are unique in appearance. A crisp black with gold trim, our trucks blend both tradition with modern technology. One touch of tradition on many of our trucks are red and green lights, a tradition we borrow from the Chicago Fire Department. The red and green lights have a strong history with the Navy and represent port and starboard.
From the birth of the FDMH and for over 100 years, the FDMH had no full-time staff. In the recent years, we have started hiring full-time employees to fill the daytime shifts due to a lack of volunteers with availability. We currently have eight full time Firefighter AEMTs.
Volunteers serve to fill whatever roles they can. Some fill in night and evening ambulance shifts, others respond to fire calls when they can. Without these volunteers, the department simply could not function. The volunteers are still considered the bread and butter of the department and our volunteers are proud of the heritage and tradition of the FDMH. With around 60 volunteers and many serving on both the EMS and Fire side, our members are fully-trained, educated and dedicated to serving the western half of Dane County.
Are you interested in joining the fire department, EMS or both? Stop by the Station and talk to a member! We are always looking for dedicated individuals who have a desire to be a part of something bigger than themselves.
Chief of Department Jenny Minter
Deputy Chief Thane Westermeyer
Assistant EMS Chief Gary Haglund
Captain Mike Kellesvig
Lieutenant Dusty Haglund
Lieutenant Tyler Hesseling
Lieutenant Dan Kleman
Lieutenant Tim Brandemuehl
Lieutenant Kristin Revello
Lieutenant Carissa Amundson
Lieutenant Ryan Peterson
To help maintain our response fleet, members within our department have stepped up to help ensure all of our apparatus and response vehicles are in proper working order.
Engine 2: Foreman OPEN, Assistant Foreman J. Nelson
Engine 3: Foreman K. Kietzke, Assistant Foreman M. Cowden
Engine 4: Foreman D. Williams, Assistant Foreman M. Heredia
Truck 1: Foreman T. Brinkmann, Assistant Foreman J. Hensler
Brush 1/Car 1: Foreman B. Kietzke, Assistant Foreman C. Zenz