Lakeville Fire Department

Lakeville Fire Department operates out of four stations across the city, with its administrative office based at Fire Station 4 (9465 185th Street West) under Fire Chief Mike Meyer. As Lakeville has grown, the department began transitioning in 2024 from an all paid-on-call (volunteer) staffing model to a hybrid department combining full-time and paid-on-call members, adding temporary sleeping quarters at Stations 1 and 4 to support round-the-clock full-time coverage.

The department is in the midst of a facilities modernization plan. A FEMA SAFER grant is funding three years of staffing for 21 new full-time firefighter positions, while the city is consolidating its station footprint from four stations down to three: a new station combining the current Station 2 and Station 4 is under construction at 17624 Dodd Boulevard and is expected to open in 2026, with full modernizations of Station 3 and Station 1 planned for 2028 and 2028-2029, respectively. The project is funded in part by gas and electric franchise fees adopted by the city in December 2024.

Beyond emergency response, Lakeville firefighters run fire prevention education in schools, conduct business fire and life-safety inspections, offer station tours and block-party visits, provide free child car-seat installation, and participate in the Minnesota Youth Firesetting Prevention and Intervention program. The department also shares personnel and equipment through a mutual aid agreement with other cities in Dakota and Scott Counties and the Metropolitan Airports Commission.

Lakeville Fire Department hires Paid-on-Call Firefighters, with recruitment for that role typically opening each spring; full-time firefighter openings are recruited as vacancies occur throughout the year. No prior fire experience is required to apply.