New Haven-Berger Fire Protection District

10/25/2026

🚒🎨 2026 FIRE PREVENTION WEEK POSTER CONTEST WINNERS! 🎨🚒

The New Haven-Berger Fire Protection District is proud to recognize the talented students who participated in this year’s Fire Prevention Week Poster Contest! ❤️🖤

On October 7th, while conducting fire drills at our local schools, our members had the pleasure of presenting awards to this year’s winners and celebrating their hard work, creativity, and efforts to help spread the message of fire safety.

🏆 Congratulations to our 2026 Poster Contest Winners!

📚 Franklin County R-II School

First & Second Grades
🥇 Cora Kelley
🥈 Cora Hischier
🥉 Theodore Baker

Third & Fourth Grades
🥇 Olivia Scheer
🥈 Calie Groppe
🥉 Riley Parmentier

Fifth & Sixth Grades
🥇 Evelyn Nilges
🥈 Hazel Lanue
🥉 Gus Meyer

📚 New Haven Elementary School

First & Second Grades
🥇 Lance Bratcher
🥈 Lillian Rothschild
🥉 Emma Hale

Third & Fourth Grades
🥇 Tillie Perjak
🥈 Caroline Conner
🥉 Tatum Ogle

Fifth & Sixth Grades
🥇 Emmalin Dodson
🥈 Willow Biggs
🥉 Sam Maune

⭐ On to State Competition! ⭐

We are also excited to recognize the students whose posters were selected for submission to the state competition! Congratulations to:

🎨 First & Second Grades

Lance Bratcher

Cora Kelley

Lillian Rothschild

🎨 Third & Fourth Grades

Olivia Scheer

Tillie Perjak

Caroline Conner

🎨 Fifth & Sixth Grades

Evelyn Nilges

Emmalin Dodson

Willow Biggs

A huge thank-you to the students who participated, the teachers and school staff who helped make this contest possible, and the parents and families who encourage our young artists to learn about fire safety.

Teaching fire safety starts at a young age, and these students have helped us share an important message with our community. We wish our state competition participants the very best of luck! 🚒❤️

Lastly thank you to the New Haven Berger Fire Auxiliary for judging the Posters again this year.

WE ARE NHB — Neighbors Helping Beyond the Flames!



Photos provided by both the New Haven School District, and Franklin County R-2 School District.

09/30/2026

🧯 FIRE SAFETY IN ACTION! 🚒

Our members recently had the opportunity to conduct hands-on Fire Extinguisher Training at Henniges Automotive, helping reinforce important fire safety skills and emergency preparedness in the workplace!

Training like this gives participants the opportunity to learn about proper fire extinguisher use, practice the PASS method (Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep), and build confidence in responding to a small fire when it is safe to do so.

We appreciate Henniges Automotive for providing the opportunity to work with their team and help promote fire safety in our community! 🤝

At New Haven-Berger Fire Protection District, we believe that fire prevention and education are just as important as responding when the alarm sounds.

🔥 WE ARE NHB — Neighbors Helping Beyond the Flames! 🔥

09/25/2026

🚒 TRAINING BEYOND THE CALL 🚒

On Tuesday, September 22, 2026, some of our members took advantage of some extra hands-on training using a Forcible Entry Door Prop that the Hermann Area Volunteer Fire Department was kind enough to let us borrow.

Forcible entry is a critical skill that firefighters may need to perform when seconds matter. This training gave our members the opportunity to work on techniques for gaining access through locked or secured doors while practicing proper tool selection, placement, teamwork, communication, and firefighter safety.

💪 Extra training means better preparation.

The more we train, the better prepared we are to serve our community when the call comes.

A special THANK YOU to Hermann Fire for making the door prop available and helping provide our members with valuable hands-on training!

🤝 Maintaining strong relationships with our surrounding fire departments is critical. Sharing equipment, knowledge, and training opportunities makes all of us better prepared to work together when the call requires a mutual response.

🔥 WE ARE NHB
Neighbors Helping Beyond the Flames

09/11/2026

🇺🇸 25 YEARS — NEVER FORGET 🇺🇸

Today, the New Haven-Berger Fire Protection District remembers September 11, 2001 — a day that forever changed our nation, our communities, and the fire service.

Twenty-five years later, we remember the 343 firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice while running toward danger to save others. We remember the police officers, EMS personnel, military members, and the thousands of innocent people who lost their lives that day.

But our remembrance does not end with those who were lost on September 11th.

In the days, weeks, months, and years that followed, countless firefighters, police officers, EMS personnel, construction workers, volunteers, and other responders became sick from the toxic exposure they endured while working at Ground Zero and the surrounding sites. Many have since lost their lives to 9/11-related illnesses.

They answered the call. They went into the dust and debris. They worked tirelessly to search, recover, clean up, and help a wounded city — often without knowing the long-term price they would pay.

Their sacrifice is part of the story of September 11th, too.

We remember the families who never got to say goodbye. We remember those who came home that day but never truly escaped its consequences. We remember the brothers and sisters who answered the call and paid the ultimate price, both on that day and in the years that followed.

As firefighters, we carry their memory with us every time we put on our gear, answer a call, and run toward someone else's emergency.

25 years later, their sacrifice still matters.
Their names still matter.
Their stories still matter.

From the New Haven-Berger Fire Protection District to every family who has lost a loved one because of September 11th:

We remember.
We honor.
We will never forget.

🇺🇸 September 11, 2001 — 25 years later.

NEVER FORGET. 🇺🇸🚒

08/24/2026

Back to School with Your Fire District!

What a great way to kick off a new school year! Our firefighters were excited to welcome students back at Franklin County R-2 and New Haven Elementary.

We opened our doors, greeted students and families, and enjoyed seeing all those smiling faces as everyone headed back to school. We’re proud to be part of these communities and grateful for the opportunity to support our local schools.

To all the students, teachers, staff, and families — have a safe, successful, and fantastic school year!

From your friends at the fire district: Stay safe, learn lots, and make it a great year!

08/18/2026

Last Tuesday night at our monthly board meeting, the New Haven-Berger Fire Protection District officially swore in Assistant Chief of House 3, Perry Bruckerhoff.

Assistant Chief Bruckerhoff was sworn in by Chief Greunke. He was pinned by his son, Devin.

Congratulations to Assistant Chief Bruckerhoff as he continues his service and leadership within our district.

07/18/2026

On Tuesday night at our monthly board meeting, the New Haven-Berger Fire Protection District officially swore in Assistant Chief of House 1, Joshua Vance, and Captain of House 5, Joseph Rowe.

Assistant Chief Vance was sworn in by Chief Greunke. He was pinned by his wife, Ashley, with their children, Oliver, Brynlee, and Paisley, present for the ceremony.

Captain Rowe was also sworn in by Chief Greunke. He was pinned by his wife, Sara, with their daughters, Emily, Lucy, and Daisy, present for the ceremony.

Congratulations to Assistant Chief Vance and Captain Rowe as they continue their service and leadership within our district.

07/14/2026

A huge thank you to Casey's of New Haven for generously donating pizza for our New Haven-Berger Fire Protection District meeting last Tuesday!

Your support and generosity are greatly appreciated by our members. Community partnerships like yours help keep our volunteers fueled during meetings and training, and we're grateful to have local businesses that stand behind their fire department.

Thank you for your continued support of the New Haven-Berger Fire Protection District and the community we proudly serve! 🍕🚒❤️

06/26/2026

Today, we honor and remember Firefighter Lloyd Ruediger.

Lloyd's unwavering dedication, selfless service, and commitment to protecting our community left a lasting legacy within the New Haven-Berger Fire Protection District. He was an invaluable member of our fire family whose impact continues to be felt today.

Though he is no longer with us, his sacrifice and service will never be forgotten.

Never Forgotten. Forever Honored.

Please keep Lloyd's family, friends, and all who had the privilege of serving alongside him in your thoughts today.

Today we honor and remember Firefighter Lloyd Ruediger. On June 26, 2023, Firefighter Lloyd Ruediger passed away at home after he responded to a residential structural fire the previous evening.

Firefighter Ruediger served with the New Haven-Berger Fire Protection District for 59 years.

We will never forget the life and legacy of Firefighter Lloyd Ruediger.

Help our mission today at BackStoppers.org/Support.

06/21/2026

Today, we would like to recognize and thank all of the fathers who serve our community as volunteer firefighters.

Being a firefighter requires sacrifice, dedication, and a commitment to helping others—often at the expense of time spent with family. Whether responding to emergencies in the middle of the night, attending training, or serving at community events, our firefighter dads continually answer the call.

To the fathers of the New Haven-Berger Fire Protection District: thank you for your service, leadership, and example. Your families share in your sacrifice, and your commitment helps make our community a safer place for everyone.

On this Father's Day, we celebrate not only the firefighters you are, but also the fathers, role models, and heroes you are at home.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads serving our department and our community! 🚒❤️👨‍🚒