The Fort Dodge Fire Department welcomed three new firefighters and two emergency medical technicians during the Fort Dodge City Council meeting on Monday evening at the city’s Municipal Building.

Due to the departures of Fort Dodge firefighters Riley Romick, Jesse Bergman and Chase Straw, the department was left with three full-time vacancies to fill. Current Fire Department EMT Zachary O’Clair was internally promoted to firefighter, and Max Stoaks and Caiden Michael were hired for the other two open positions.

Stoaks has worked for the city as an airport operations specialist since May 2022, and Michael has served as a volunteer firefighter/EMT for the Hiawatha Fire Department in eastern Iowa.

During Monday’s meeting, Fire Chief Steve Hergenreter noted that the fathers of all three men also currently work as full-time firefighters — Michael’s in Cedar Rapids, Stoaks’ in Des Moines and O’Clair’s in Spencer.

Due to the internal promotions of O’Clair to firefighter and of Brian Egemo to paramedic, two EMT positions opened up in the department. EMTs Katelyn Gilbert and Emma Fishburn have been working as EMTs for the department on an as-needed basis since earlier this spring.

Gilbert has experience with the Vincent Fire Department and Fishburn has worked as an EMT for Clarion Ambulance Service and Iowa Speciality Hospital in Belmond.

The five new staff will begin their probationary period today and will begin training requirements, according to the Fort Dodge Fire Department’s Facebook page.

With these vacancies now filled, the Fire Department is back up to full staffing.