Fargo Firefighters Local 642

08/26/2026

Our thoughts and prayers are with those impacted by this tragedy - our neighbors to the West. Check out the GoFundMe below to lend a hand.

After this weekend’s tragic events in Billings, Montana, Where firefighters were met with gunfire coming from inside a Billings West end home, we’re heart broken for all they witnessed.
We’ve since learned that both children and adults were among the 8 fatalities.

We’ve also learned, with profound sorrow, that these unimaginable losses included the entire family of a fellow Montana firefighter for Billings International Airport.

At the request of his fellow firefighters, we humbly share this GoFundMe page to help offset the overwhelming financial costs that begin immediately and may continue for months and years to come.

For years this families Husband and Dad has responded to help others with a smile and no questions. This is our chance to stand up and return the love and respect.

Every donation, every share, and every kind thought and comment means more than we can express during this heartbreaking time.

Please keep Adam, his fellow firefighters, loved ones, and everyone affected by this unimaginable loss in your thoughts and prayers.
We’re Montana Firefighters, we stand united with love and support to all those who responded and continue to answer the call.
With love, please stay safe.

https://gofund.me/d116ad65d

Please follow your local Billings Montana news outlets for more.

08/25/2026

🗓️ Last month, with support from the Public Safety Sales Tax that your Fargo Firefighters worked tirelessly in 2024 to get passed - going door-to-door throughout the community - The City of Fargo - Government purchased an approximately 7-acre property in central Fargo that will become the future home of the Fargo Fire Department training center.

⚠️ This new training center will replace the unsafe and dilapidated facilities that are roughly 60 years old and no longer suitable for training, centralize drill grounds, classrooms, and offices, and significantly increase training resources and space for our crews and recruit academies.

Before the property’s existing structures came down, however, they provided one last valuable opportunity in real-world training.

Our crews took full advantage of the opportunity, conducting training on vertical ventilation, aerial operations, building construction, and much more. 🚒

It isn’t every day that we get the chance to train in actual structures scheduled for demolition. These opportunities allow our crews to sharpen their skills in an environment that closely mirrors the challenges they may face on the job.

💪 We’re proud to help build a safer, better-trained FFD and excited for what the future training center will bring.

08/24/2026

Rest In Peace, Sergeant Fauske 💙 Thank you for your service to this community.

08/21/2026

👨‍🚒 Firefighter Friday 👨‍🚒

Name: Brett Czaplewski
Nickname: Brettski
Badge #: 421
Rank: Driver
Station: 4
Shift: B
Speciality: Technical Rescue
Years of Service: 19
Certifications: Firefighter I & II, Rope Rescue I & II, Confined Space I & II, Trench Rescue I & II, Structural Collapse I & II, Hazmat Operations, EMT

Q: Where are you from?
A: Winona, MN

Q: Why did you want to pursue this career?
A: My Dad was a volunteer firefighter in my hometown. I grew up around the fire station, I knew from a young age it was what I wanted to do.

Q: How has being a firefighter changed since you started?
A: The calls have gotten much more violent. I never thought we would be issued ballistic vests in my career. Also, firefighting used to be a very competitive career to get into. There used to be hundreds if not thousands of people take the test for only a handful of jobs. The number of people applying has gone down drastically and a lot of departments accept lateral transfers which was not a thing until recent years.

Q: What is your most memorable career moment?
A: Station life, it truly is a second family.

Q: What is one professional goal you have for yourself?
A: To continue to be a union leader and advocate for our members health, safety, and wellbeing.

Q: What is a misconception about firefighting you'd like to correct?
A: That a very small portion of our job is actually going to fires. We truly are an all-hazards department, responding to everything imaginable. We have a saying that if you don't know who to call, call the fire department.

Q: What would you tell someone interested in this career?
A: Do a ride along and see what our day-to-day operations are like. Talk to the crews - we are more than happy to brag about our jobs!

Q: What do you do when you're not working at FFD?
A: Spending time with my daughter, Hailey. Lots of hunting, fishing and being on the water as much as possible. My role as Local 642 Vice President also keeps me busy attending meetings and trainings.

Q: Fun fact about yourself or a short joke:
A: I grew up in Wisconsin and am proud Green Bay Packers Owner!

Q: Favorite feel-good song?
A: Reel Problems by Riley Green

08/15/2026

📈 Shaping the future of the IAFF.
🎤 Debating the issues that matter most.
🙋‍♂️Voting on resolutions.
🤝 Networking with members from other locals.
💪 Honoring the leaders who’ve strengthened our Union.

Your Fargo Firefighters, along with over 2,000 other brothers and sisters from across North America, took time to make the voyage down to Arlington, TX this week and be at the 58th International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Convention ⬇️

08/07/2026

MOORHEAD, MINN. (KVRR) – The firefighters' union in Moorhead is raising the alarm about what they are calling a lack of support from city officials.

08/06/2026

🔥Structure Fire - 3300 Blk 16th Ave S

According to PulsePoint, the call came in around 7:15 am.

Click here for more details >>>> https://www.valleynewslive.com/2026/08/06/second-floor-apartment-fire-fargo/

07/30/2026

🤝 Last night, Local 642 and Fargo Fire hosted former Deputy Mayor/Fire Commissioner Denise Kolpack for dinner at Station 8, and presented her with an engraved axe as a thank you for her multiple years of service to our department and community.

We thank her for her steadfast advocacy, dedicated work both publicly and behind the scenes as Fire Commissioner, and friendship these last few years!

We are grateful to have had the pleasure of having a healthy, non-partisan, working relationship with her and will sorely miss her at City Hall.

Best of luck with future plans! 💪

07/23/2026

A lil to 2004 with this vehicle/garage fire… No more yellow helmets or rigs in 2026!

📸 Credit: Fargo Fire Department

07/16/2026