Burnsville Professional Firefighters

06/03/2026

Last week, we had the privilege of celebrating several important milestones during the Burnsville Fire Department Badging Ceremony.

Please join us in congratulating our newest firefighters on their badging:

Hannah Johnson #118
Matty Smith #119
Vinnie Dimmens #120
Brooke Townsend #121
Clayton Anderson #122
Clark Edblad #123
Sam Fuchs #124
Kyle Leary #125
Connor Haag #127

After months of training, hard work, and dedication, these firefighters officially received their badges and joined the proud tradition of serving the Burnsville community.

We also recognized Chris Walker as he was officially badged as our Assistant Chief of Operations. Congratulations, Chief Walker, as you begin this new chapter of leadership within our department.

In addition, Drew McLaughlin was honored as our 2026 Firefighter of the Year. This recognition reflects his commitment to excellence, service to the community, and dedication to his fellow firefighters.

Congratulations to all! We are proud to serve alongside you and look forward to the impact you will continue to make for our department and community.

05/24/2026

Garage door open season means the entire neighborhood gets to hear your friendly neighborhood meatheads deadlifting to Ella Langley during the rare break between calls where the whole crew actually made it to the gym together.

05/22/2026

🚑💨💨
Medic 5 is officially on the road and ready to serve the Burnsville community!

Before taking its first call, crews carried on a fire service tradition that dates back generations by pushing the rig into the bay. In the days of horse drawn apparatus, rigs had to be manually pushed back into the station after calls. Today, the tradition remains a symbol of teamwork, pride, and the strong culture of the fire service.

Judging by the faces in this photo, the tradition may have gotten a little heavier over the years.

05/15/2026

Yesterday, five members of the Burnsville Fire Department were honored by the Dakota County EMS Advisory Council with the Emergency Medical Services Award for an Outstanding EMS Response during a critical pediatric trauma incident at Buck Hill last fall.

Crews responded to a young patient who suffered severe injuries in a mountain bike crash on the Buck Hill trail system, including a severed trachea and other significant traumatic injuries. Due to the remote location of the patient in the wooded trails, firefighters first had to locate and extricate the child before beginning advanced lifesaving care.

This incident highlighted exceptional teamwork, calm decision making, and advanced EMS care under challenging conditions.

While we are deeply honored to receive this recognition, what means the most to us is the opportunity to serve our community each and every day. Whether responding to major traumatic incidents or everyday calls for help, we are grateful for the trust placed in us during some of life’s hardest moments. It is a privilege to stand beside our community in times of crisis and provide care, compassion, and support when it is needed most.

Congratulations to Kait Shirk, Troy Kubista, Shawn Hill, Jonathan Erickson, and Kyle Laughlin on this well deserved recognition.

Four of the five award recipients are pictured following the Dakota County EMS Awards Banquet. Jonathan Erickson was unable to attend the ceremony and is not pictured.

05/06/2026

📢 Training Alert: Activity on Crystal Lake 🚤

​If you see a heavy presence of emergency vehicles and boats on Crystal Lake today and tomorrow, don’t be alarmed—it’s all part of a plan!
​Our team is teaming up with several neighboring agencies for intensive Water Rescue Training to ensure we're ready for whatever the season throws at us.
​🗓️ When:
​Today, Wednesday (5/6)
​Tomorrow, Thursday (5/7)
​🤝 Who You’ll See:
​This is a massive multi-agency effort including:
​Burnsville Fire
​Bloomington Fire
​Savage Fire
​Shakopee Fire
​Lakeville Fire
​Dakota County Sheriff’s Office
​Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office
​⚓ Special Thanks:
​A huge shoutout to Frontier Precision and SKS Solutions for conducting this training and providing the expertise to help keep our communities safe.
​We appreciate your cooperation in giving our crews the space they need to train. See you out on the water! 🌊
​

04/24/2026

04/24/2026

🔥 FDIC 2026 🔥

At Burnsville Fire, we value continued education and excellence, always looking for new ways, tools, and training to better serve our community. That’s why we had several members in Indianapolis this week at FDIC International learning from some of the best in the fire and EMS world.

While we were there to learn, we were also proud to represent. Our newest ambulance was on display at the Road Rescue booth, showcasing the latest in performance, safety, and reliability. Keep an eye out for Medic 5 out in the community in the near future.

It is always our goal to further knowledge, skills, and innovation to keep raising the bar and are grateful for the opportunity FDIC afforded to do so.

04/21/2026

Please join us in congratulating Matt Smith on completing medic school and earning his paramedic certification 👏🏼

Matt joined the department in September 2024 as one of our first Firefighter/EMTs, and now becomes one of the first of our firefighter trainees to complete paramedic school, a major milestone not only for him, but for our department as we continue to grow our capabilities.

Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Matt brings a strong background of service with him. He is an 8 year Army veteran with two deployments to the Middle East, and he continues that commitment to serving others here in our community.

Matt has earned his AAS in Fire Rescue and recently completed his AAS in Paramedicine. He is not done yet, he is set to graduate this fall with his Bachelor’s degree in Public Health.

Outside of the job, you will find Matt staying active running, walking his two dogs, or relaxing with a good book. And if you ask him, he will tell you he is the biggest Ohio State Buckeyes fan in all of Minnesota.

Congratulations, Matt. We are proud to have you on the job and look forward to what is ahead.

04/15/2026

🔥 Battle of the Badges IV 🔥

Last evening Burnsville Fire took part in Battle of the Badges IV at MN Axe in Eagan alongside our brothers and sisters in law enforcement and the fire service.

This event was about more than just competition. All proceeds went to support a captain from a mutual aid department who is currently battling cancer. The turnout and support were incredible to see and after a hard fought competition, Burnsville Fire came out on top and brought home the traveling trophy!

Thank you to everyone who came out, participated, supported a great cause, and to MN Axe for hosting. Proud of our crew and proud to stand with our fire service family when it matters most.

04/07/2026

Burnsville Fire Recruits + their FTOs wrapped up the joint academy phase strong. Final burn day brought rain and cold, but performance never wavered and the smiles stayed.

Next stop: EMS training and shift integration before they hit the streets.