New Ulm Fire Department operates with 41 firefighters, 5-minute response time
Photo courtesy of the New Ulm Fire Department New Ulm Fire Department firefighters advance a hose line into a structure during a live burn training exercise.
Photos courtesy of the New Ulm Fire Department NUFD firefighters work to extricate a simulated victim from a school bus on its side during a technical rescue training exercise. The drill focused on vehicle stabilization and patient removal.
New Ulm Fire Department firefighters advance a hose line into a structure during a live burn training exercise. Crews used the training to practice interior attack and search operations.
The New Ulm Fire Department responds to an early morning fire in November 2024.
Photo courtesy of the New Ulm Fire Department New Ulm Fire Department firefighters advance a hose line into a structure during a live burn training exercise.
Photos courtesy of the New Ulm Fire Department NUFD firefighters work to extricate a simulated victim from a school bus on its side during a technical rescue training exercise. The drill focused on vehicle stabilization and patient removal.
New Ulm Fire Department firefighters advance a hose line into a structure during a live burn training exercise. Crews used the training to practice interior attack and search operations.
The New Ulm Fire Department responds to an early morning fire in November 2024.
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The New Ulm Fire Department responded to 141 fire calls in 2025 while maintaining an average in-town response time of 5.31 minutes from initial dispatch tone-out to scene arrival.
The department currently operates with a roster of 41 active paid-on-call firefighters. Under this operational model, members balance their primary jobs, family obligations, and personal schedules with round-the-clock emergency response duties across the city. When an emergency dispatch tone sounds, firefighters deploy directly from their homes or workplaces to the station to crew apparatus, or respond straight to the scene.
For in-town calls, a department chief typically arrives on scene first in a direct-response vehicle within minutes of the tone. This rapid initial response allows command staff to evaluate conditions, establish scene management, and direct incoming engine crews before primary pumpers arrive.
Maintaining this standard of response across 141 annual calls requires extensive initial preparation for every member on the roster. A new recruit completes approximately 225 hours of training during their first year on the department. First-year instruction covers structural firefighting tactics, vehicle extrication, hazardous materials response, search and rescue protocols, and equipment operation. Recruits complete coursework and practical hands-on exercises to earn official NFPA firefighter certifications before taking on full structural operations. Ongoing weekly and monthly drills continue for all active members throughout the year to maintain technical skills, test equipment, and review safety procedures.
In addition to fire suppression -- the direct work of advancing hose lines, applying water, venting toxic smoke, and dousing flames to control fire spread -- department personnel handle equipment maintenance, station upkeep, and public safety education throughout the year. The department also manages historical preservation efforts, including housing and maintaining historic city fire engines.
"The number one asset of the NUFD is our firefighters," Fire Chief Paul Macho said. "Our stations, equipment, and trucks are all important, but at the heart of our department are the people who serve our community."
Macho said that maintaining consistent coverage depends on the coordination and personal commitment of the paid-on-call crew.
"One of the most essential and remarkable aspects of the NUFD is how well our firefighters work together," Macho said. "The teamwork, commitment, and dedication they bring to the department is truly impressive. They give countless hours of their time, often balancing their service with careers, families, and other responsibilities."
To keep staffing levels stable against natural turnover and retirements, the department maintains active recruitment efforts aimed at local residents.
"We are also fortunate to continue attracting good candidates to the department," Macho said. "There are people in our community who are willing to step up, serve their neighbors, and become part of something bigger than themselves. That willingness to serve, and the way our firefighters work together, is what makes the NUFD such a strong and valuable part of our community."