Photos: Fire destroys S.D. FD's building, both ambulances, 4 out of 5 fire trucks

By Leila Merrill
FireRescue1/EMS1

LAKE NORDEN, S.D. — The Lake Norden emergency building has been declared a total loss after a fire started Wednesday, destroying equipment, both department ambulances and four out of five fire trucks.

No people were hurt.

Crews from Bryant, Castlewood, Hayti and Estelline responded and were able to save one fire truck, Dakota News Now reported. 

”Unfortunately, with the pole-style building that it is, it doesn’t take a whole lot of fire to make the building a total loss,” said Lake Norden Chief of Police Tony Aas.

“All the bunker gear, all the life-saving stuff that they have in there was in the building at the time. So, that’s going to be a big hit,” said Aas.

Ron Hines, a board member of the South Dakota Firefighters Association, volunteered to handle the logistics of arranging a fire district in Lake Norden for surrounding emergency agencies to help cover calls.

The Lake Norden Fire Department lost two tanker haulers, a brush truck and one engine pumper, according to KELO.

Other emergency agencies offered ambulances.

”The outpouring was phenomenal. We had calls from as far away as Kansas wanting to bring an ambulance up,” said Aas, who expected to have ambulances running in a matter of days.

Police department offices were also destroyed in the fire. The building and vehicles are covered by insurance.

Local restaurants have pitched in, letting first responders have meals and coffee for free, Dakota News Now reported.