Mission Volunteer Fire & Rescue

09/21/2026

PSA: MVFR will be conducting a burn this morning of a brush pile at the Antelope Community wacipi grounds.

09/14/2026

"What is an offensive versus defensive fire?"

Recent, highly publicized structure fires in our area have brought up an important distinction in how firefighters operate at structure fires.

An offensive fire means firefighters enter the building to search for occupants and attack the fire from inside. This can only occur when conditions are survivable and enough trained personnel are available. At an absolute minimum, an interior attack generally requires two trained firefighters inside, two trained firefighters outside as a backup for the interior crews, and someone manning the pump panel maintaining a reliable water supply for those inside.

A defensive fire means that conditions are too dangerous for firefighters to enter. Crews attack the fire from outside using hand lines, master streams, and aerial ladders while protecting nearby buildings and preventing the fire from spreading. This approach is used when structural collapse is possible, the volume of fire outguns the number of available crews, or the risks of entering outweigh the potential benefits.

The decision between offensive and defensive operations is not unique to Mission. It is a standard fire service decision based on fire conditions, building stability, available water, staffing, and overall safety.

As an all-volunteer department, we may initially arrive with only a few members depending on the time of day. On weekends, many of our members could be out of town grocery shopping just like you. During weekdays, they could be working their full-time jobs. A fire, especially one involving several apartment units, can easily require 12 to 15 trained firefighters (or more) to safely begin an effective offensive operation based on the sheer size of the incident.

Defensive firefighting does not mean crews are standing around or giving up. It means the building is too dangerous to enter. Firefighters continue fighting the fire from outside while protecting people and nearby buildings.

More trained firefighters on scene means more options. When enough trained members respond, crews may be able to enter the building and fight the fire from inside. When too few firefighters are available, the department may have no safe choice but to fight from the outside.

Every new member helps make our department stronger. If you are ready to learn new skills, serve your friends and neighbors, and become part of a dedicated team, Mission Volunteer Fire & Rescue encourages you to consider joining the department as a recruit.

09/13/2026

MISSION FIREFIGHTERS RESPOND TO ANOTHER FIRE AT SUNRISE APARTMENTS

At approximately 10:03 AM on Sunday, September 13th, 2026, Mission Volunteer Fire & Rescue was paged by Rosebud Dispatch for a report of a structure fire at Sunrise Apartments in northwest Mission.

Firefighters arrived on scene in the 500-numbered apartments and found a working fire in several apartment units as well as in the attic space. Due to initial staffing levels, Incident Command initiated a defensive firefighting operation, with all crews operating on the exterior for firefighter safety. The apartment units were reported to be vacant.

Mutual aid was requested from the Valentine Volunteer Fire Department, which responded with personnel and equipment to assist the Mission crews.

Windy conditions also presented a wildland fire risk, with fire extending into the grassland near the apartments. Firefighters conducted a small backfire operation in the grass to mitigate these concerns.

Firefighters remain on scene at this hour, working with city maintenance crews to overhaul the scene.

The Sunday morning fire was the department's third call to the apartment complex in as many hours. Firefighters responded to the area just before 3:00 AM for a large trash pile fire, then returned just after 5:00 AM to check on reports that the pile was on fire again.

Agencies that responded to this incident included Mission Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Valentine Volunteer Fire Department, Rosebud Sioux Tribe Ambulance Service, Mission Police Department, Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, and the City of Mission Maintenance Department.

09/06/2026

MISSION FIREFIGHTERS RESPOND TO SUNRISE APARTMENT BLOCK FIRE

At approximately 5:44 AM on Sunday, September 6th, 2026, Mission Volunteer Fire & Rescue received a call from the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Ambulance Service reporting a structure fire at Sunrise Apartments in northwest Mission. An ambulance crew in the area reportedly came upon the fire and a crowd of onlookers.

Firefighters arrived at the 200-numbered block of apartments and found a working fire in three apartment units, along with smoke coming from the roof eaves indicating attic space involvement. Information indicated that the block was abandoned.

Incident Command ordered searches of the adjoining apartment units before transitioning to a defensive strategy, which pulled all crews back from the building for safety.

Incident Command requested mutual aid from the Valentine Volunteer Fire Department, which responded across the state line with an engine, aerial ladder, and manpower to supplement the Mission crews.

At one point during the incident, passing thunderstorms and lightning forced aerial ladders to be temporarily lowered for firefighter safety.

Firefighters remain on scene at this hour, mopping up and managing hotspots with the assistance of a backhoe from the city’s maintenance department.

Agencies that responded to this incident include Mission Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Valentine (Nebraska) Volunteer Fire Department, Rosebud Sioux Tribe Ambulance Service, Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, City of Mission Maintenance Department, and Cherry-Todd Electric.

Mission firefighters previously responded to this apartment block in the early morning hours of August 1st, 2026, extinguishing a small fire in that incident. Later that day, the 700-numbered block of apartments would burn as covered in a previous press release.

08/27/2026

***630 PM MDT Update: The Severe Thunderstorm Watch for western South Dakota has been cancelled.***

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of Nebraska and South Dakota until 9 PM MDT.

08/18/2026

Mission Volunteer Fire & Rescue is proud to announce that on Monday, August 17th, 2026, the department's own Ashton Olson, a member of the fire explorer program, took the oath to enlist in the United States Marine Corps in a ceremony held at the Sioux Falls MEPS, 1st BN, U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command.

Ashton will soon be shipping out for boot camp at MCRD San Diego. The department wishes Ashton the best of luck as he takes the next step in serving his country!

08/12/2026

MISSION FIREFIGHTERS RESCUE PERSON TRAPPED IN RV DURING STORM

Just after 12:00 AM on Wednesday, August 12th, 2026, as severe thunderstorms were moving through the area, Mission Volunteer Fire & Rescue was requested for a physical rescue of a person trapped inside of an RV blown over near Old Ring Thunder in north central Todd County.

Chief 1 arrived on scene and found a heavily damaged RV that was reportedly blown over and rolled some 50 feet from its original location in the severe winds of the storm. Contact was made with a patient inside of the RV who, due to traumatic injuries, was unable to self-extricate.

Additional firefighters arrived on scene and began accessing the patient by removing portions of the RV’s walls, allowing a paramedic and other ambulance service personnel to make entry and begin patient care. Crews then assisted with removing the patient from the wreckage to the ambulance for transport to the hospital.

Agencies that responded to this incident include Mission Volunteer Fire & Rescue, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Ambulance Service, and Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.

08/12/2026

08/12/2026

Severe Thunderstorm Watch #572 is in effect for south-central South Dakota until time 5am MDT/6am CDT. This means large hail, and damaging winds are possible in and near the watch area. Stay alert by monitoring forecasts on NOAA Weather Radio, weather.gov/unr, or local media. Keep an eye on the sky for developing storms and be ready to take shelter if a warning is issued. If you observe severe weather, please send a report via the free mPing app or send an online report from our website.