Fire Chief
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
Fire department strategic planning
Transition from paid-on-call to full-time staffing models
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) role in fire departments
Community safety and public health initiatives
Pandemic response coordination (vaccination/testing clinics)
Notable Quotes (3)
Our number one goal is to prevent fires, not to put them out, right? So we hopefully, you know, almost put ourselves out of business.
Strategic PlanningExplaining the importance of home safety programs.
If I could be in multiple places at once... that'd be really, you know, ideal for us. Or just plug in a USB port to the back of my head.
Public ServiceDescribing the demands of his job and the desire for multitasking.
It was a city-wide effort on how we could support a lot of those pieces. And just watching that partnership... was just and it is humbling.
Pandemic ResponseReflecting on pandemic vaccination clinics.
People (4)
Phil JensentCommunications Manager
City employee, co-hosting Grovecast podcast.
Emily SchmidzCommunity Development Director
City employee, co-hosting Grovecast podcast.
John PritchardFire Chief
Cottage Grove Fire Chief, former deputy chief and nurse.
Jennifer LevitCity Administrator
Coordinated city-wide response during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Places Mentioned
Cottage GroveWhite Bear LakeOIO, MinnesotaMercy Hospital, RapidsCreighton University, Omaha, NebraskaWashington County
Events & Meetings (1)
- Grovecast Episode recording (pre-holiday season)