Lansing Professional Fire Fighters Local 3709

10/05/2026

10/02/2026

No rain. No crazy weather. No special circumstances. Just Gold Shift putting in the work.

Yesterday, Local 3709 Gold Shift members wrapped up our 3rd Quarter Live Fire Training, working through a combination of live-fire evolutions designed to reinforce the fundamentals our members rely on day in and day out.

Proficiency in this job isn't built by doing something once; it's built by doing it again and again until it's second nature: stretching lines, throwing ladders, forcing doors, searching, communicating, working together as a company.

Three shifts. Three days of live fire. Another quarter in the books.

The fires may be controlled, but the skills are real.

Local 3709 — Forged in Training. Proven on the Streets.

Village of Lansing Fire Department

10/01/2026

There are two types of departments: those that train in the rain, and those that don't.

Yesterday, Local 3709 Red Shift members, alongside our brothers and sisters from Calumet City Professional Firefighters Local 621 , looked at the forecast, saw the rain, and collectively said:

"Screw it, we ball."

Despite the less-than-ideal conditions, crews hit the training ground and completed their scheduled live-fire evolutions and skill stations, getting another day of our 3rd Quarter Live Fire Training in the books.

The reality is, emergencies don't wait for blue skies and perfect conditions. Fires happen in the rain, snow, heat, cold, and everything in between. Training when conditions aren't perfect adds another layer of realism and forces crews to adapt, communicate, and work through the same challenges they may encounter when the tones drop.

Because companies that train in all conditions, perform in any condition.

Another solid day of training alongside the members we routinely work beside on the fireground; thanks to our Calumet City brothers and sisters for grinding through it with us.

Red Shift down. Gold Shift on deck.

Local 3709 — Forged in Training. Proven on the Street.

09/30/2026

Yesterday, Local 3709 Black Shift members kicked off our 3rd Quarter Live Fire Training alongside our brothers and sisters from Calumet City Professional Firefighters Local 621.

Live-fire training is conducted quarterly and gives our members the opportunity to sharpen the skills we rely on when it matters most. Throughout this week's drills, crews are working through a combination of scenario-based evolutions and individual skill stations, focusing on the fundamentals of engine and truck company operations in realistic fire conditions.

Just as importantly, these drills give us the opportunity to train alongside our neighboring departments. Our members routinely work together on structure fires and other major incidents throughout the area, and training together helps ensure that when we're called to work side-by-side on the fireground, we're already accustomed to operating as one team.

Black Shift got things started yesterday, with Red and Gold Shifts taking their turns throughout the week.

We'll be sharing more photos throughout the week as our members put in the work, sharpen their skills, and continue preparing for the next call.

Train together. Work together. Get better together.
Local 3709 - Forged in Training. Proven on the street.

Village of Lansing Fire Department
Calumet City Fire Department

09/25/2026

Happening now !

09/21/2026

Wishing Engineer/Paramedic Earl Dargert a happy 19th work anniversary with the Lansing Fire Department!

Earl celebrates 19 years of service today to the Village of Lansing today and is currently assigned to Gold Shift at Station 29, where he serves as the shift's junior Engineer assigned to Engine 29.

Nearly two decades in the fire service have given Earl a wealth of knowledge and experience, particularly when it comes to engine company operations. Pumping, engineering, hose loads and deployments, and getting water where it needs to go are areas Earl has spent years studying, practicing, and refining. Despite that experience, he remains a student of the job; continuing to learn, stay current with new ideas and tactics, and pass that knowledge along to the members around him.

Earl genuinely enjoys teaching and sharing what he's learned over the years, whether during formal training or simply around the firehouse. His combination of experience, mechanical know-how, and willingness to help has also earned him an unofficial role on Gold Shift: the guy you go to when you need something figured out. When something needs to be fixed, explained, built, figured out, or there's simply a question nobody has the answer to, it's not uncommon to hear, "Go ask Earl."

Beyond his work on shift, Earl is also heavily involved with Local 3709, currently serving as Vice President on our Executive Board. During his time on the E-Board, Earl has helped navigate multiple collective bargaining agreements, working alongside his fellow board members to strengthen our contracts, improve benefits and working conditions, and advocate for the long-term interests of our members. their families, and the department as a whole.

After 19 years, Earl continues to demonstrate one of the most important parts of this profession: never stop learning, and never hesitate to pass that knowledge on to the next person.

Congratulations, Earl, on 19 years of service to the Lansing Fire Department, Local 3709, and the community we proudly serve. Here's to many more.

Village of Lansing
Village of Lansing Fire Department

09/21/2026

Wishing Senior Firefighter/Paramedic Aaron "AJ" Jadernak a happy 18th work anniversary with the Lansing Fire Department!

AJ recently celebrated 18 years of service to the Village of Lansing and is currently assigned to Black Shift at Station 29, where he serves as the shift's senior firefighter. While he spends most of his time working the back step of Engine 29, he can also regulary be found behind the wheel of either Engine 29 or Truck 31 depending on the day's assignment.

Nearly two decades on the job have given AJ an intimate knowledge of the buildings, streets, and hazards throughout Lansing; the kind of familiarity that only comes from years of driving these streets and walking into these buildings, call after call.

That experience carries over into a particular knack for truck work. Forcible entry, ladders, ventilation, and the many other jobs that fall to the truck company are areas where Aaron's knowledge runs deep, making him a go-to resource for newer members looking to learn the craft.

Throughout his career, AJ has also served his fellow members of Local 3709 as a Union Steward, representing and supporting the members he worked alongside.

Congratulations, Aaron, on 18 years of service to the Lansing Fire Department, Local 3709, and the community we proudly serve. Here's to many more.

Village of Lansing
Village of Lansing Fire Department

09/19/2026

Wishing Deputy Chief Randall Wright a happy 14th work anniversary with the Lansing Fire Department!

Deputy Chief Wright has served the Village of Lansing since 2012 and is approaching his first full year as a Chief Officer, marking another chapter in a career that has included service in a variety of roles both within the department and Local 3709.

Today, Deputy Chief Wright oversees the department's EMS, Public Education, and Fire Prevention & Inspection Bureaus, areas that touch nearly every aspect of how we serve the community both before and after an emergency occurs.

Deputy Chief Wright has worked hard to grow and expand our Fire Prevention and Public Education programs, helping develop them into what they are today. Through increased community outreach, fire and life-safety education, inspections, and other prevention initiatives, these programs allow our members to engage with residents outside of the traditional emergency response setting with a simple goal; preventing emergencies before they happen and keeping our community safer.

Prior to becoming a Chief Officer, Randall served on the line and contributed to the department and his fellow members in several additional capacities. He previously served as a member of the Honor Guard, as well as on both the Foreign Fire Insurance (2%) Board and Pension Board.

Congratulations, Deputy Chief Wright, on 14 years of service to the Lansing Fire Department and the community we proudly serve. Here's to many more.

Village of Lansing
Village of Lansing Fire Department

09/19/2026

Wishing Deputy Chief John Grady a happy 19th work anniversary with the Lansing Fire Department!

Deputy Chief Grady has served the Village of Lansing since 2007 and currently oversees the department's Operations and Training Division, helping ensure our members remain prepared to meet the wide variety of emergencies we respond to every day.

In that role, Deputy Chief Grady has worked closely with our Training Coordinator to reinvigorate and expand the department's training program, helping introduce new opportunities, strengthen existing programs, and provide our members with increasingly realistic and progressive training designed to prepare them for the challenges they face on the job.

Deputy Chief Grady also remains an active Fire Investigator and serves as the MABAS Division 24 Special Teams Chief, where he oversees the Division's specialized response teams and works to ensure their personnel, staffing, and operational readiness are maintained when these regional resources are called upon.

Before moving into administration, Deputy Chief Grady served on the line and was also an active member of Local 3709, including previously serving on our Executive Board and representing his fellow members.

Congratulations, Deputy Chief Grady, on 19 years of service to the Lansing Fire Department and the community we proudly serve. Here's to many more.

Village of Lansing
Village of Lansing Fire Department

09/17/2026

Please join us in congratulating several members of Lansing Professional Fire Fighters Local 3709 who recently celebrated another milestone in their careers!

While these members received their promotions earlier this year and have already been serving in their new roles, they were officially sworn in on Tuesday the 15th's Village board meeting, formally recognizing their advancement within the Lansing Fire Department.

Congratulations to:

Lieutenant/Paramedic Tony Minkalis — promoted from Engineer/Paramedic
Lieutenant/Paramedic Kyle Hasselbring — promoted from Engineer/Paramedic
Engineer/Paramedic Earl Dargert — promoted from Senior Firefighter/Paramedic
Engineer/Paramedic Trevor Banske — promoted from Firefighter/Paramedic
Engineer/Paramedic Zach Bolda — promoted from Firefighter/Paramedic

Each of these promotions represents another step forward in their careers and an opportunity to bring their individual experience, knowledge, and perspective to a new role. We look forward to seeing each of them continue to develop in their new positions while helping mentor and prepare those coming up behind them.

These promotions also represent the continued growth and evolution of our department. Local 3709 remains committed to working collaboratively with department and Village leadership to advocate for increased staffing, expanded opportunities for advancement, and a stronger organizational structure that supports both our members and the growing needs of the community we serve.

From all of us at Local 3709, congratulations Lieutenants Minkalis and Hasselbring, and Engineers Dargert, Banske, and Bolda on your well-earned promotions and official swearing-in! We wish each of you continued success, growth, and a long and safe career in your new positions.

Village of Lansing
Village of Lansing Fire Department