Fire Department & EMS

The Templeton Community Fire Department provides both fire suppression and emergency medical services. The department is made up of 33 men and women that volunteer a lot of time and effort toward the service they provide. The emergency medical service is staffed by first responders, EMTs, Critical Care Paramedics, and a RN/Paramedic. The service is equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment.


Board of Directors

Name
Office
Jason Klocke
President
Jerry Behrens
Vice President
Bill Prebeck
Secretary/Treasurer
Austin Irlbeck
Glen Irlbeck
Alan Kerkhoff
Josh Riesberg
Todd Springston
Scott Sturm

Fire Department Roster

Member
Line Officers
Year
Duane Irlbeck
Fire Chief
1995
Jerry Behrens
Assistant Fire Chief
2007
Glen Irlbeck
Captain
1994
Dave Ramsey
Captain
1999
Alan Kerkhoff
Lieutenant
2016
Josh Riesberg
Lieutenant
2016
Mark Bauer
1990
Joe Behrens
2000
Jim Bruggeman
1978
Kyle Cmelik
2021
Chris Dopheide
1999
Kenneth Hansen
2018
Kyle Hansen
1994
Dalton Hawbaker
2016
Timothy Henriksen
2020
Ryan Herbers
2018
Rick Hoffman
2004
Austin Irlbeck
2010
Ethan Irlbeck
2022
Gary Irlbeck
1999
Cole Kerkhoff
2010
Eric Kerkhoff
2016
Jason Klocke
2016
Eric McMichael
2022
Bill Prebeck
1984
Dale Prebeck
1975
Dave Schwaller
1977
John Seidl
2022
Todd Springston
2018
Scott Sturm
2016
Mike Walsh
1986
Dustin Werner
2019

EMS Roster

Member
Office
Tim Henriksen
EMT
Gary Irlbeck
EMT
Jerry Behrens
EMT
Kenneth Hansen
Critical Care Paramedic
Rick Hoffman
EMT
Sylvia Sporrer
RN/Paramedic
Weston Hulst
Critical Care Paramedic

Past & Present Fire Chiefs

Name
Year
Ed Reicher
1923
Peter Murray
Late 30's - Early 40's
Anthony Heitman
1942
Bert Lang
1943-1944
Vince Schoeppner
1944-1946
N.W. Bruggeman
1946-1966
Tom Horbach
1966-1990
Dale Prebeck
1990-2014
Jim Bruggeman
2015 to 2017
Duane Irlbeck
2018 to present

Past & Present Assistant Fire Chiefs

Name
Year
Bert Lang
1944-1946
L.J. Schwaller
1946-1966
Jim Schoeppner
1966-1990
Dave Schwaller
1990-2014
Mark Bauer
2015-2016
Mike Walsh
2017
Cole Kerkhoff
2018
Jerry Behrens
2019 to present

HISTORY

The Templeton Community Fire Department (TCFD) was formally organized by the Templeton City Council on October 20, 1886. The department had humble beginnings, starting with very basic fire-fighting equipment including a hand-pumper, hose cart, and a limited amount of lined hose. Ladders were soon added, and the first engine house was built in 1891. In 1893 a fire bell was acquired, and the City Council gave the Fire Department full responsibility of the fire apparatus. The Department’s first fire truck was put into service in 1924, and a new fire station was also constructed at this time.

In 1934, the Department acquired a second fire truck, and this truck was in service for over 50 years until it was sold in the early 2000’s to a department member. The truck has been restored and is still used in parades, as is the Department’s 1952 International pumper which is also now owned and maintained by a local family. The TCFD grew significantly over the years, acquiring new trucks and equipment as necessary and receiving training in various firefighting and emergency response techniques. Of particular note is the Department’s role in the beginning of the Carroll County First Responder Program, which was initiated by TCFD member Tom “Bunny” Walsh in 1984 to improve emergency medical response in cities without ambulance service.

Today the TCFD is a full-service, modern emergency response organization that is staffed entirely by local volunteers. The Department has a roster of 33 dedicated men and women who are well trained and who maintain the department’s equipment and facilities. The TCFD maintains two stations, including the original 1924 station and the newer 1979 station that received an updated façade in 2011. The TCFD has five trucks, including a 1987 GMC Tanker, 1993 International Pumper/Tanker, 1994 International Pumper/Tanker, 2016 Dodge Brush/Quick Attack, and a 2020 Dodge Brush/Quick Attack. The Department’s EMS staff includes EMT's, Critical Care Paramedics, and a RN/Paramedic and maintains and houses one of Carroll County’s seven ambulance units, a service that was added in 2001.