Dayton Fire – History & Mission
The Dayton Fire Department was founded in 1962. The original fire station was located at the intersections of Dayton River Road and Robinson Street in old town Dayton. Today’s stations one and two were both built in the 1980’s. Many trucks have come and gone over the years; the original Dayton engine is still owned by the department and being considered for restoration. A retired Dayton engine which sat unused for years, was donated in 2024 to a non-profit for use overseas. See the story HERE.
The Dayton Fire Department fleet currently consists of two engines, two rescue trucks, one grass truck, one tanker, two rescue boats, a UTV and two command vehicles. The newest additions are two 2025 F150 Ford Crew Cab trucks serving as rescue and grass trucks. Both were acquired in 2024. As Dayton has become one of the fastest growing cities in the state of Minnesota, the Dayton Fire Department has committed to matching that growth and continues to strive for excellence. We hold strongly to our core values of Trust, Integrity, and Professionalism.
Our Mission Statement
The Dayton Fire department strives for excellence in the performance of duty during the service we provide to all citizens.
About Us
Dayton is one of the fastest growing cities in Minnesota. In spite of unprecedented growth, we remain committed to providing trusted and professional care to our residents. The population increase and thousands of new structures create new and exciting challenges for the Dayton Fire Department. We are working hard to keep up with the growth by increasing our training hours, our number of firefighters and by keeping our equipment up to date.
When fully staffed, there are 36 members who continuously train to become more effective and efficient at protecting lives, homes, and other property from fire and other disasters. Currently, there are 23 paid-on-call firefighters, a full-time Chief and a full-time Assistant Chief in the Dayton Fire Department. Our paid-on-call firefighters include three Line Officers. In addition to fighting fires, our members are trained as First Responders and are first on-scene for Dayton’s medical emergencies. The Dayton Fire Department responds to over 600 calls of various nature each year.
Fire Chief
Gary Hendrickson
763-323-4001
ghendrickson@daytonmn.gov
Assistant Fire Chief
Kevin Astrup
kastrup@daytonmn.gov
