Whitewood Volunteer Fire Department

10/13/2026

We changed our lights in memory of deputy Katherine Frank.

10/12/2026

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office and with the family and friends of Deputy Katherine Frank.

Passing of Deputy Katherine Frank -

The Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office announces with profound sadness the passing of Deputy Katherine Frank, age 26, earlier today. Deputy Frank was surrounded by her family and loved ones in her final moments. In her final act of service and generosity, she became an organ donor, continuing to help others even in her passing. Katherine worked at the South Dakota State Penitentiary from September 2022 until being hired with the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office in June 2024.

Deputy Frank’s death is a significant loss to our agency and to the broader law enforcement community in and around Sioux Falls. She served the citizens of Minnehaha County with professionalism, humility, and dedication. Her absence will be felt deeply by all who have had the privilege of working alongside her.

A memorial has been established at the Law Enforcement Center located at 320 W. 4th St., Sioux Falls, SD, for those who wish to pay their respects. The Sheriff’s Office will also continue maintaining a presence at the hospital as we support her family during this difficult time.
Further information regarding funeral services, honors, and departmental arrangements will be provided as soon as it becomes available.

Deputy Frank served with dignity and heart. Her service made a meaningful difference, and her impact will remain with us always.

10/10/2026

10/10/2026

Thank you to everyone that attended the open house/retirement. We got it from here Dan Schmidt enjoy your retirement!

10/10/2026

Engine 2 is on display at the open house!

10/10/2026

Engine 2 is on display!

Food is getting prepared as we speak, stop on by between 10:00am-2:00pm. BBQ pulled pork, potato salad, hot dogs 🌭, chips and cookies 🍪!

10/09/2026

🚒❤️ WHAT THEY DON’T SEE BEHIND THE SIRENS — FROM A FIREFIGHTER MOM

People see a firefighter.

I still see my child.

They see the uniform.

The helmet.
The boots.
The turnout gear.

They see someone trained to run toward the things everyone else is trying to get away from.

And I see all of that too.

But I also see the person I raised.

The kid whose scraped knees I once fixed.

The one I worried about when they started driving.

The one I stayed awake waiting for when they were late getting home.

Except now…

the things I worry about are different.

Now my child is a firefighter…This is their career!

Their calling; Their normal.

And as proud as I am—and believe me, the pride is enormous—there’s another side of being a firefighter’s Mom that people don’t always see.

It’s hearing sirens and wondering.

It’s knowing enough about the job to understand what could happen… while trying not to think about it too much.

Because they’re trained, They’re capable, They know their job, And I trust them… But I’m still Mom.
And I’m not sure that part ever turns off.

There are shifts when I know they’re sleeping at the station.

Meals eaten around calls.

Holidays celebrated on different days.

Birthdays and family gatherings that sometimes have an empty chair because duty came first.

There are conversations interrupted because they have to go.

And sometimes there are calls they don’t talk much about afterward.

I’ve learned not to ask too many questions.

Sometimes “I’m okay” has to be enough.

Because when the shift ends, everyone else sees the firefighter going home.

I see my child coming home.

Maybe exhausted, Maybe quiet, Maybe laughing and telling stories, Maybe carrying something from the shift that I’ll never completely understand.

And no matter how old they get…
no matter how many years they wear that uniform…
a part of me will always want to make sure they’re okay.

That’s the strange thing about raising a firefighter.

You spend years teaching your child to be careful.

Then one day, you watch them build a life around going toward danger when someone else needs help.

And somehow your heart has to learn how to hold two things at once:

The worry.

And an unbelievable amount of pride.

So when you see a firefighter riding past in that truck, remember…
somewhere there may be a Mom who knows exactly whose face is underneath that helmet.

A Mom who is incredibly proud of the person they became.

A Mom who knows they chose a life of helping people on some of their worst days.

And a Mom who, no matter how grown they are, will always breathe a little easier when she knows they’re safely back at the station.

Because Behind the Sirens isn’t only about the firefighters.

Sometimes it’s about the people who raised them.

Who love them.
Who worry about them.
Who are ridiculously proud of them.

And who will forever look at that firefighter and still see their kid. ❤️🚒

10/07/2026

🚒 Fire Safety Week at Story Time at Whitewood Public Library! 🚒

Story Time today was straight-up FIRE—literally! 🔥 We kicked off Fire Safety Week in the coolest way possible with some very special VIP guests: DJ and Emily from the Whitewood Volunteer Fire Department! And yes... they brought the brand-new fire truck! 🚒✨

Here’s how the magic went down:
📖 Emily read a super sweet story, about real life fire fighter, Rosie
🙋‍♂️ Curious Minds: Question time was off the charts! Our kids (and parents!) dropped some top-tier questions.
🚨 The Ultimate VIP Tour: Things went from awesome to UNFORGETTABLE! The kids got to climb inside the new truck, hear the sirens blast, and see all the cool gear up close!
👨‍🚒 Gear Up & Demos: Emily suited up in her full firefighter rig while DJ broke down what all that heavy-duty gear does. To top it off, they demoed the mind-blowing Jaws of Life! 🛠️💥

Thank you to the library volunteers that are an important part of Story Time!!🌟👏