RIVER FALLS – The City of River Falls and the River Falls Rural Fire Association have signed a historic 20-year contract that will extend the city’s fire services to the association’s service territory through the end of 2046.

The River Falls Fire Department has proudly provided service to neighboring rural communities for more than 50 years. Territories included in the agreement are the Town of River Falls, Town of Kinnickinnic, and portions of the Towns of Troy, Clifton, and Pleasant Valley.

“We are excited for this next chapter of our long-running partnership with the River Falls Rural Fire Association,” said River Falls City Administrator Scot Simpson. “We believe our continued work with the Rural Fire Association is an example of neighbors helping neighbors, and we are glad to keep providing essential services to many of the communities near River Falls.”

With the new contract, the city will continue to furnish fire protection services – which includes fire suppression, accident response, rescue, public education, and hazardous material release/spill response – to the Rural Fire Association’s territory.

“The members of the River Falls Rural Fire Association are making this commitment due to the impressive service of our River Falls Fire Department volunteers,” said Joe Rohl, chair of the River Falls Rural Fire Association. “It will take a terrific effort to provide 35% of the cost of the new fire station, along with 35% funding of all budgeted operating expenses, but our member municipalities recognize the importance of funding this fire department for the long-term sustainability. We appreciate the city working with us to create a long-term solution and commitment.”

The city and the association members began formalizing annual contracts in 1994, which included shared ownership of the vehicle fleet. When the city hired its first full-time fire chief in 2010, the two entities began establishing multi-year contracts. That was also the time when the shared equipment model shifted to one where the fleet was fully owned, operated, and maintained by the city.

The previous agreements renewed automatically for two-year periods from 2018 to 2026. The latest version of the agreement will take effect Jan. 1, 2027.

Submitted by City of River Falls