The Medical Operations Division maintains responsibility for the provision and oversight of emergency and non-emergency Advanced and Basic Life Support ambulance services in the Rapid City and Pennington County Service area. The Division operates under the medical directon of Dr. Nathan Long. In addition to ambulance services, the Division provides and oversees other non-traditional medical services to include the Mobile Integrated Healthcare Program (Mobile Medic), Paramedic education, Medical Billing, and Special Response Team (SRT) Paramedics.
The Rapid City Fire Department took over pre-hospital medical care on March 1, 2003. The Rapid City Fire Department Ambulances are the primary Advanced Life Support (ALS) provider for the City of Rapid City, portions of Pennington County, Eastern Custer County, and portions of Meade and Lawrence Counties. The Department ambulances cover an area of 3,200 square miles, with a daytime population in excess of 300,000 people in the summer.
Firefighter EMTs and Paramedics are all cross trained in the latest firefighting techniques as well as the latest in medical care. Our staff respond out of seven stations to a wide variety of calls, including fires, cardiac arrests, odor investigations, patient assists, children locked in vehicles and long distance ambulance transfers. While not answering calls, personnel are busy training, conducting fire prevention inspections, presenting public education programs, performing equipment and station maintenance, and participating in physical fitness exercises.
The Rapid City Fire Department also has a Mobile Medic program that was launched in 2016. In 2023, Mobile Medic responded to 2,711 calls for service. They are a single resource community Paramedic unit. The program has several goals, which consist of, reaching the medically underserved and vulnerable populations in our community, connecting patients with the right service at the right time, working with other allied health care providers in our area, reduce personnel and equipment hours for ambulance and large fire apparatus crews by responding to non-emergency calls for service, and to serve as an additional Advanced Life Support provider on significant emergency calls for service and large incidents. Since 2016, the Mobile Medic program has grown significantly. In its initial stages, Mobile Medic provided coverage eight hours per day, five days a week with one provider. In March of 2020, the program began providing 20 hour per day coverage, seven days a week with four full-time providers and a total of five relief providers.
To contact the Medical Operations Division regarding non-emergency transfer or transportation, billing, or with general questions, please call 605-394-4180. For medical emergencies, please dial 9-1-1.
Medical Operations Division Chief
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Medical Operations Section Chief
Lead Mobile Medic
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Under the direction of Fire Operations Division Chief Brian Povandra, the Fire Operations Division is comprised of three Battalions (A, B & C) of 39 personnel each. These dedicated women and men work 56 hour weeks to assure 24/7/365 day response readiness.
Each Battalion is led by a Battalion Chief.
Above, left to right: Battalion Chief Keith Trojanowski (A-Shift), Battalion Chief Andy Lipp (B-Shift), Battalion Chief Calen Maningas (C-Shift)
A Firefighter’s day begins at 7:00 am and continues for a 24 hour period. They take care of their Fire Stations just like it is their home, including lawn maintenance, snow removal, painting, waxing the floors, light construction and cleaning them top to bottom.
A firefighter’s day is busy. They begin the day by checking their personal protective gear, equipment and trucks. Next, they engage in physical fitness training, followed by daily company training. The afternoons are spent performing equipment and station maintenance, conducting fire preplans, school visits, public education, fire inspections, drills, more training, station tours and much more. And remember, at any time, they may have to drop everything to respond to emergencies.
Rapid City Firefighters are well versed and highly trained in the area of wildland firefighting. In addition to providing wildland fire suppression and staffing Incident Command System (ICS) position in and around Rapid City, our firefighters deploy to large fires across the United States each year. In the last two years alone, Rapid City Firefighters have traveled to large fires in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Kansas, Wyoming, Colorado, Montana and Idaho.
To assist in battling these large blazes, our firefighters performed tasks such as fireline medics, helicopter crewmembers, engine bosses, firefighters, command & general staff positions, hand crew members and heavy equipment bosses. The experience our members get while deployed to these large fires makes the Rapid City Fire Department a top-notch organization able to handle the toughest fires when they arrive at our back door. In addition to the gained knowledge and experience, the expenses are reimbursed and directly fund apparatus and equipment that would normally have to be funded by general tax dollars.
Maintenance
Maintenance Supervison Mike Holmberg keeps our fleet of over sixty vehicles ready to respond to calls. Working alongside retired RCFD Lt. Tyler Wilcox, they are responsible for repair, maintenance and service of all Department ambulances, large & small fire apparatus, wildland apparatus, staff vehicles, and all other rolling stock. In addition to fire trucks, Mike & Tyler maintain and service all of the equipment that is utilized in our jobs.
These guidelines apply to single-family dwellings and two-family dwellings (duplex) only. Other types of homes or group use are not allowed open burning unless a designated space is approved by the fire department.*
Your fire needs to be in a container that is in good condition and is difficult to burn. This can be as simple as dirt and a ring of rocks (no roots or other vegetation inside or around the ring) or as fancy as a permanent outdoor fireplace. Other good ideas are fire rings, fire bowls, chimineas, and fire pits.
Use the fuel designed for your appliance such as natural gas, propane, or wood. Only use dry, cut or split firewood; do not burn rubbish, garbage, or yard waste including grass and branches.
Burn wood stacked no more than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet high in the burn container.*
We recommend that your fire is at least 15 feet from things that will catch fire including trees, overhanging branches, walls, decks, and patios.
Be ready to put the fire out. Keep a bucket of water, shovel, connected garden hose, or fire extinguisher close by.
Someone who can extinguish the fire must monitor the fire at all times. Sparks and brands can quickly start an unwanted fire, especially on warm and windy days.
If your smoke is bothering your neighbors, you may need to put the fire out.
Ensure the weather is not too windy and not too hot. You are responsible for all damage caused by your fire, even if wind caused the fire to spread. You could also be responsible for the cost of extinguishing the fire if you were negligent in preventing the fire.
Always follow manufacturer's instructions. Click here to download a copy of these safety guidelines and a sketch of suggested placement.
*Fine print, disclaimers, and exclusions
Is there an Outdoor Burning Ban? No. Learn more here.
When is it too dangerous to have a fire? Learn more here.