August 2008
On July 5, 2008, long-time firefighter Jeff Davis marked his 35th year as a member of the Inver Grove Heights Fire Department. Jeff joined the department in 1973, eighteen years old and one year out of high school.

There wasn’t much by way of an official training program at that time. "When I started, we were given a rubber jacket, boots, and gloves and told, ‘Hang on!’” Jeff said.

Training requirements for firefighters have grown and standardized over the intervening years and Jeff now holds certifications in firefighting, medical response, and hazardous materials. Training is an ongoing affair these days and Jeff participates in many hours of continuing education every year. Jeff’s enthusiasm remains strong. Last year he attended 100% of the department’s weekly training sessions - a feat that was unmatched.

Fire Chief Judy Thill finds Jeff’s passion and dedication to be second to none; “Jeff is a rare individual whose long-term passion and enthusiasm have brought him respect from firefighters across Dakota County over several decades. Jeff is just as committed today as when he joined the department.”

Jeff is a lifelong resident of Inver Grove Heights. He grew up in the South Grove area of town and graduated from Simley High School in 1972. He then enrolled at Dakota County Vo-Tech (now Dakota County Technical College) and went on to receive a degree in horticulture and a diploma in truck driving. In school, Jeff was a hockey player, a skier, and ran track and cross country.

His physical pursuits continue today. When Jeff isn't fighting fires, he can often be found taking part in one of his favorite pastimes, running. Jeff runs a minimum of three to five miles a day, six days a week. Now in his fifties, he's slowed down a bit. Instead of participating in a series of marathons and triathlons each year, he has cut back to “just one” marathon. Every summer for the past 25 years Jeff has traveled to Duluth to take part in Grandma's Marathon, finishing with times that best many younger competitors.

Other Responsibilities
During his thirty five years on the department Jeff has taken on many roles, including two decades in the rank of engineer. One of Jeff’s specialties is in the area of public education. He has a special rapport with kids and takes great pleasure in teaching fire prevention to school children. Every year he has taken a few days off of work to participate in the annual safety camp held at Kaposia Park.

One of Jeff's proudest moments occurred on March 11, 1981. The fire department responded to a house engulfed in fire. Upon arrival at the scene, the firefighters were told of a man trapped inside, probably on the second floor. Knowing there was no hose line ready for protection and in spite of the risks involved, Jeff made an entry through a second story window and searched the second floor while another crew searched the main floor. Jeff and the crew of firefighters received a commendation from the city for their heroic actions.

These days firefighters ride to fires and other emergency calls in enclosed truck cabs, safely seatbelted in. But Jeff recalls his early days on the department, when firefighters rode on the outside of the trucks, hanging on while speeding down the road. “I never fell off,” Jeff said with a laugh, “but I did lose a few helmets.”

Mayor George Tourville is a retired firefighter who worked alongside Jeff for many years. Everyone on the department has great stories about Jeff, and Mayor Tourville is no different. “I remember Jeff was one of the first firefighters who found me at the bottom of a pit in a burning building on Concord Street many years ago. He was a welcome sight that day!”

At 35 years, Jeff has tied former Fire Chief Rudy Wegner as the longest-serving member of the department. But even after all that time, the thousands of emergency calls, and the countless hours of lost sleep and interrupted meals, Jeff isn’t quite ready to call it quits. He plans to stay on for at least another year. When asked what he likes best about his job, Jeff replies without hesitation, “The firefighters.”

The Inver Grove Heights firefighters have been fortunate indeed to have Jeff Davis on their team. Jeff received the department’s “Firefighter of the Year” award in 1999, an annual award handed out to a firefighter who shows exceptional dedication to the department. “His dedication and service have gone a long way in making Inver Grove Heights a safer city,” states Mayor Tourville. “We appreciate his service and skills. On behalf of the city, Jeff, thank you!” 

January 2008
Fire Chief Judy Thill Reflects on First Four Months on Job
On September 4, 2007, Judy Thill became Inver Grove Heights Fire Department's first full-time fire chief. After four busy months in her new job, Chief Thill looks back on her early accomplishments, her first impressions of the department, and her expectations for the future. 

"I was very pleased at how quickly I felt accepted by the firefighters," said Thill. "I thought it would take many months to become comfortable and I was pleasantly surprised that I felt comfortable within the first month."

Prior to joining Inver Grove Heights Fire Department, Thill was employed by the City of Maple Grove for 11 years where she worked as the Deputy Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator. “I was involved with a lot of personnel and administrative duties at Maple Grove, which helped prepare me for this job. There is a lot of work involved with running a fire department.” As a new member of the city staff Judy has been busy learning the department, building working relationships with city staff members and outside agencies, and handling the many day-to-day issues that come her way.

 Judy was also a firefighter in neighboring Eagan. She retired from the Eagan Fire Department on February 2nd, 2008. “Deciding to leave Eagan Fire was difficult. I started my career in the fire service there 19 years ago.” Still, she feels it is the right decision to make, as it will allow her to focus more completely on Inver Grove Heights.

Although Chief Thill is new to Inver Grove Heights Fire, she is no stranger to the department. Thill is well known in the department and throughout the state as a highway safety trainer. Judy, along with two MNDOT employees, developed a highway safety training program in 2000. Since that time, Judy and her colleagues have brought the message of highway safety to 2000 emergency responders at over 200 agencies in the state. In May 2008 Judy will be presenting a roadway survival session at the Minnesota Safety Council Conference. Nearly 1200 people from the five state area will be in attendance.

Education
Judy has an impressive educational background. She holds a bachelor's degree in Safety Sciences from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and is completing her Master of Business Administration degree at Cardinal Stritch University. She is also a Certified Safety Professional through the Board of Safety Professionals.

Judy comes from a family of firefighters. Her father worked for 43 years as a volunteer firefighter in the Black Lick Fire Department in Pennsylvania. Her grandfather was a charter member of the same department. With another cousin and two uncles in the fire service, it is safe to say firefighting runs in her family’s blood.

As Inver Grove Heights continues to grow in the coming years, the fire department will be changing to meet the needs of the city and its residents. Judy explains, “We need to grow to meet future challenges. The city will be dealing with an aging population as the baby boomers grow older, which will likely bring more medical and fire emergencies. We will be looking at adding another fire station in the coming years, along with adding the personnel and equipment that goes along with it.” Finding volunteer firefighters is becoming increasingly difficult across the nation, and Inver Grove Heights is no exception to this problem. “The fire department needs to continue to grow to meet the demands of the city, but we plan to stay a paid-on-call fire department as long as we are able to do so safely and efficiently.”

Fire Explorers Win State & National Competitions in 2007
Under the leadership of advisors Dan Bernardy and Paul Rank, the explorers had a busy and successful year of public education, training, and competition.

On June 18, eight Inver Grove Heights Fire Explorers traveled to Champaign, Illinois to take part in the 2007 National Fire and Emergency Services Exploring Conference. The five day event was sponsored by the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute. Around 700 youth participants traveled to Champaign from all over the country. Team members Nathan Rank, Daniel Bernardy, Luke Caneff, and Jon Pedersen tied for first place in the CPR and Movement competition. After two difficult tie breakers still resulted in a tie, a decision was made by time in action and the team brought home the second place trophy. In the individual event called the Candidate Physical Ability Test, a series of fire ground duties requiring strength, speed, and agility, explorer Jon Pedersen rose to the occasion and placed second in the nation with an overall time of three minutes and sixteen seconds.

On August 24 the explorers took part in the ninth annual Governor's Fire Prevention Day at the Minnesota State Fair. Fire departments from around the state got together to teach fire safety to state fair visitors. The Inver Grove Heights Fire Explorers took part in a series of competitions. Explorer Daniel Bernardy placed in the top ten for the gear donning competition.