The Breckenridge Volunteer Fire Department elected long-time fireman Tyler Slettedahl as the new chief of the department. Slettedahl was nominated by his peers, before being elected to the position Thursday, April 8. Former Chief Nate Summerville Held the position for five years. The title doesn’t have a term limit, but Summerville said he felt it was time to step down to let someone else like Slettedahl take the lead. “He’s very well-respected and very knowledgeable about the fire service.
Slettedahl, 37, has been with the department since 2012, and before that, he served on a department in southwest Minnesota.
“I’m excited to be chief, but there’s always some nervousness,” Slettedahl said. “In any job, there’s expectations, whether that be from the community or the other employees from the city or your peers on the fire department.” Slettedahl will handle public relations for the department, manage fire scenes, strategize for the department and identify needs, like equipment. Slettedahl’s main goal is to help better the department and he’s looking forward to seeing it grow.
The department currently has a team of 25, but a few retirements on the horizon could slim the number. Slettedahl said he’d like to fill the department to its maximum of 30 members. Not having a full department can prove difficult, especially when everything is on a volunteer-basis.