17 chiefs oversee fire services in Jefferson County, Eureka

Each of the 17 agencies that provide fire protection services in Jefferson County and Eureka has a chief who oversees its day-to-day operations.

Together, these chiefs are responsible for protecting approximately 702.52 square miles and overseeing about 447 employees and an additional 168 volunteer firefighters.

The Crystal City Fire Department is the only firefighting agency with only volunteers, including the chief, Tony Bova. While he’s considered a volunteer, he is paid $7,800 a year, plus a $350 monthly vehicle allowance and a stipend per call.

Rock Community Fire Chief Kevin Wingbermuehle is the highest paid chief among all the agencies, earning a $139,499.88 annual salary to oversee the area’s fire district with the largest number of employees, 78, and the highest annual budget, $14.7 million.

Crystal City Fire has the lowest budget at $400,000.

The chiefs are in charge of a diverse group of firefighters who are trained to handle a wide variety of services. Not only do they protect various structures from fire, but they assist in searches and rescues, including water rescues, and respond to traffic accidents and a multitude of other emergencies in the communities they serve.

“The most vital role a chief plays in a fire district is keeping the firefighters safe, making them feel heard, and communication,” Antonia Fire Protection District Chief Matt Krutzsch said. “Being the chief, it is my job to make sure the firefighters have the tools, equipment and the training they need to go home to their families.

“Communication is key in the fire service making sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to emergency calls and daily duties and activities at the fire station and with the citizens.”

Antonia Fire Protection District

• Chief: Matt Krutzsch.
• Age: 48.
• Lives: Barnhart.
• Salary: $91,955.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in fire science from Columbia Southern University; the applied science degree in fire service technology and certificate in fire science technology from Jefferson College. Completed fire service leadership enhancement program at University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Training Institute.
• Professional history: Started with Antonia Fire as volunteer in 2001; hired as full-time firefighter in 2003; then promoted to lieutenant in 2013 and then captain the same year; promoted to battalion chief 2015, deputy chief in 2020, interim chief in January 2021 and chief May 2021.
• Family: Wife, Katie; children, Maggie, Claire.

Cedar Hill Fire Protection District

• Chief: Mick Fischer.
• Age: 48.
• Lives: Cedar Hill.
• Salary: $82,353.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree emergency service management; associate degree fire science technology; Missouri state certified firefighter I & II; fire instructor I & II; fire officer I & II; Haz-Mat operations; driver operator; fire investigator; fire service inspector; supervising lead evaluator; 1403 live fire instructor; Missouri state licensed emergency medical technician; completing master’s degree in business.
• Professional history: Started as Cedar Hill Fire volunteer in 1994; hired as full-time firefighter in 2001 and promoted to lieutenant in 2015 and chief in 2018; part-time Big River Ambulance employee for 17 years; part-time High Ridge Fire Protection District employee for four years; Jefferson College firefighter I and II instructor for three years; Jefferson College adjunct instructor. 
• Family: Wife, Kelly; children, Benjamin, 18, Emily, 16.

Crystal City Fire Department

• Chief: Tony Bova.
• Age: 65.
• Lives: Crystal City.
• Salary: $7,800 annually; also receives $350 monthly vehicle allowance and “per call” for fire calls and practice for the all-volunteer department.
• Education: Crystal High School graduate.
• Professional history: Dow Chemical employee 1978-2018.
• Family: Wife, Kathy; children, Chris, Matt.

De Soto Fire Department

• Chief: Tony Ochoa.
• Age: 55.
• Lives: Arnold.
• Salary: $60,000
• Education: Firefighter 1-2; EMT; fire officer 3; fire inspector 1; hazmat ops; tactical combat casualty; SWAT operator; airport crash fire certification; swift water technician.
• Professional history: Air Force fire protection for 22 years; law enforcement officer for 10 years; emergency medical technician for 30 years; volunteer firefighter for 10 years; Cedar Hill Fire Protection District for two years before becoming De Soto Fire chief in 2023.
• Family: Children, Gabriella, Elena.

De Soto Rural Fire Protection District

• Chief: Tom Fitzgerald.
• Age: 57.
• Lives: De Soto area.
• Salary: $76,500.
• Education: Associate degree fire science technology; certified fire officer and fire instructor.
• Professional history: Started as full-time firefighter at the former Shady Valley Fire Protection District in 1987; promoted to fire officer 1992, chief in 1997 and started with De Soto Rural Fire in 2005 and promoted to chief in 2019.
• Family: Married; two children; four grandchildren.

Dunklin Fire Protection District

• Chief: Bradley Williams.
• Age: 54.
• Lives: Pevely.
• Salary: $67,819.
• Education: Studied fire and rescue training at University of Missouri-Columbia; Studied at Jefferson College; Herculaneum High School graduate.
• Professional history: Started at Dunklin Fire as volunteer in 1989; promoted to full-time firefighter in 1993, fire marshal in 1994, assistant chief in 2015 and chief in 2016.
• Family: Married; four children; one grandchild.

Eureka Fire Protection District

• Chief: Greg Brown.
• Age: 59.
• Lives: Eureka.
• Salary: $134,182.
• Education: National Fire Academy executive fire officer program graduate; associate degree in fire protection technology from St. Louis Community College; IHM paramedicine program graduate.
• Professional experience: Started at Eureka Fire as junior firefighter in 1981 and has been a full-time firefighter since 1985; worked as Fenton Fire Protection District firefighter in 1986; returned to Eureka Fire as lieutenant in 1987 and then was promoted to captain in 1988, deputy chief fire marshal in 1991, assistant chief in 1995 and chief in 1999; plans to retire Dec. 31.
• Family: Two children, Kyle; Ryan.

• Eureka Fire chief in waiting: Scott Barthelmass, current assistant chief.
• Age: 53.
• Lives: Kirkwood.
• Salary:  $123,102.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree business administration from Central Methodist College; associate degree paramedic technology; National Fire Academy executive officer designation; FEMA master exercise practitioner designation; certified emergency manager designation; Kirkwood High School graduate.
• Professional history: Firefighter; wildland firefighter;  law enforcement officer; hazmat technician; rescue technician and EMT/paramedic for 32 years; started at Eureka Fire as volunteer firefighter in 1997 and then promoted to public information officer in 1998, community risk reduction supervisor in 2017 and assistant chief in 2022; member of Missouri Task Force 1 since 2003.
• Family: Wife, Amy; children, Jackson, 8.

Festus Fire Department

• Chief: Jeff Broombaugh.
• Age: 59.
• Lives: De Soto area.
• Salary: $78,000.
• Education: Master’s degree fire service leadership; bachelor’s degrees fire administration and fire prevention; associate degree fire science; Certifications in Emergency Medical Technician; Fire Fighter II; Fire Service Instructor II; Hazardous Materials Operations; Fire Officer II; Fire Investigator; Incident Safety Officer; 1403 Live Fire Instructor; Fire Fighter Certification Evaluator; ICS 100, 200, 300, 400;  NIMS 700 and 800.
• Professional History: Started at Rock Fire as volunteer in 1983; hired as full-time firefighter in 1987 and then promoted to lieutenant in 1995, deputy chief-training officer in 1997, captain in 2000; battalion chief in 2011, assistant chief in 2015; chief in 2016 until retiring in June 2022. Hired as Festus Fire chief in December 2022. Been volunteer firefighter with De Soto Rural Fire Protection District since 1997 and currently is De Soto Rural volunteer deputy chief.
• Family: Wife, Lisa; children, Jeffrey, Steven, Monica, Morgan.

Goldman Fire Protection District

• Chief: Curtis Peters.
• Age: 56.
• Lives: Hillsboro.
• Salary: $62,000.
• Education: Associate degree, fire science; Emergency Medical Technician (EMT); Hazmat Operations; NIMS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700 and 800 (U.S. Fire Administration/FEMA). Fire Investigator, Fire Officer, Fire Management Level 1.
• Professional experience: Worked for Goldman Fire for 43 years, the past 15 years as fire chief. Started with the district as a volunteer “sparky firefighter” at 13 years old. In 1994, after four years in the Air Force, hired full time at Goldman.
• Family: Grandfather, William Peters, and father, Gary Peters, also were Goldman fire chiefs.

Hematite Fire Protection District

• Chief: Robert Hipes Jr.
• Age: 60.
• Lives: Festus.
• Salary: $55,000.
• Education: Festus High School graduate.
• Professional experience: Started at Hematite Fire as volunteer in 1978; became volunteer chief in 1988; became paid full-time chief in 1999.

Herculaneum Fire Department

• Chief: Kevin Baker.
• Age: 42
• Lives: Herculaneum.
• Salary: $39,520.
• Education: Associate degrees in computer information systems and paramedic technology. Certification in Firefighter I & II; Hazmat Awareness & Operations; Driver/Operator Certification; Fire Instructor and 1403 Instructor, along with others.
• Professional experience: Started as Herculaneum Fire junior firefighter in 1996; became volunteer firefighter in 2000 and full-time firefighter in 2007; promoted to captain in 2009 and chief in 2019. Jefferson County Emergency Services instructor Firefighter I & II.

High Ridge Fire Protection District

• Chief: John Barton.
• Age: 48.
• Lives: High Ridge.
• Salary: $112,000.
• Education: Fire science degree. Certification in Fire Service Leadership Enhancement Program, Fire Officer Certificate Program. 
• Professional experience: 26 years with High Ridge Fire, beginning as a volunteer firefighter and working through the ranks to chief. Worked in the information technology sector for 20 years, most recently as a senior security engineer, before leaving in 2019.
• Family: Information not provided.

Hillsboro Fire Protection District

• Chief: Brian Gaudet.
• Age: 44.
• Lives: Hillsboro.
• Salary: $77,125.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree fire science from Lindenwood University; associate degree fire science Jefferson College.
• Professional experience: Started at Cedar Hill Fire Protection District in 1998 and worked there until hired at Hillsboro Fire as full-time firefighter in 2001; promoted to chief in 2019.
• Family: Wife, Rachel; children, Noah, Samantha, Ellie.

Jefferson R-7 Fire Protection District

• Chief: Mark Earls.
• Age: 50.
• Lives: Festus area.
• Salary: $76,982.45.
• Education: Attended some college classes.
• Professional experience: Started at Jefferson R-7 as volunteer firefighter in 1992; became full-time firefighter in 2001 and chief in 2017.
• Family: Wife; two children.

Mapaville Fire Protection District

• Chief: David Brown.
• Age: 44.
• Lives: De Soto area.
• Salary: $49,200.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree fire service administration; associate degree fire science. Certification in Firefighter 2 (Missouri Division of Fire Safety); Fire Investigator (Missouri Division of Fire Safety); Fire Inspector 1 (Missouri Division of Fire Safety); Fire Officer 4 (National Fire Academy/FESHE); Fire Instructor 2 (Missouri Division of Fire Safety); Lead Fire & HazMat Evaluator (Missouri Division of Fire Safety); Hazardous Materials Technician (Missouri Division of Fire Safety); Emergency Medical Technician (EMT); Basic Life Support Instructor; Hazardous Materials Incident Commander (U.S. Fire Administration/FEMA); Type 3 All Hazards Incident Management Team (U.S. Fire Administration); ICS 100, 200, 300, 400 (U.S. Fire Administration/FEMA); NIMS 700 and 800 (U.S. Fire Administration/FEMA).
• Professional experience: Emergency services including fire, hazmat, corrections and dispatch; Mapaville Fire chief since 2018; Deputy Chief Jefferson County HazMat Team from 2006-2022; part-time captain at Hematite Fire Protection District from 2004-2016; full-time firefighter/EMT for the Goldman Fire Protection District from 2006-2010; volunteer with Mapaville Fire Association from 1998-1999.
• Family: Wife, Jaclyn; three children; one grandchild.

Rock Community Fire Protection

• Chief: Kevin Wingbermuehle.
• Age: 48.
• Lives: Arnold.
• Salary: $139,499.88.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree fire service administration; associate degree fire science technology; emergency medical technician license; paramedic license. Certification in Firefighter I & II; Fire Instructor I & II; Fire Officer I & II; Haz-Mat Operations; Driver Operator; AAS Fire Science Technology - Jefferson College and former Lead Instructor of the Firefighter I and II program; obtained EMT license from Jefferson College and Paramedic license through St. Louis Community College; National Fire Protection Association-Technical Rescue Certification, U.S. Fire Administration-Community Risk Reduction for Fire and Emergency Services; Fire Service Personnel Management; Political and Legal Foundations in Fire Protection; Firefighter Safety and Survival, National Fire Academy-Executive Chief Officer.
• Professional history: Started at Rock Fire as volunteer firefighter in 1994; hired as full-time firefighter in 1996 and promoted to captain in 2005, deputy chief training officer in 2011, assistant chief in 2016 and chief in 2022.
• Family: Wife, Melissa; four children, ages 9, 11, 17 and 19.

Saline Valley Fire Protection District

• Chief: Bob Dunn.
• Age: 52.
• Lives: Imperial.
• Salary: $99,820.
• Education: Associate degree fire science. Certification in Fire Officer Certification; Emergency Medical Technician; Fire Fighter 1 & 2; Hazardous Materials – Awareness and Operations; Fire Investigator; Fire Inspector, Fire Instructor II.
• Professional history: Saline Valley firefighter since 1995 and worked through ranks until named chief in 2005.

Rock Fire chief is a fourth-generation firefighter

By Tony Krausz

Rock Community Fire Protection Chief Kevin Wingbermuehle’s family has been involved with the district since its initial inception as the Rock Community Volunteer Fire Association in 1941.

Despite the family’s history, Wingbermuehle, 48, of Arnold said he didn’t grow up wanting to be a firefighter.

“I had an interest in the field but not as a profession,” he said. “It was just kind of what our family did.”

But firefighting took hold of Wingbermuehle after he graduated from St. Pius X High School in Crystal City and started attending college. He had some free time between his classes and part-time job and in 1994, decided to fill it as a volunteer firefighter at Rock Fire.

After that, Wingbermuehle was hooked.

He completed his emergency medical technician license while volunteering and became a full-time Rock firefighter in 1996, the same year he started training to be a paramedic.

With each career advancement, including promotions to captain in 2005, deputy chief training officer in 2011, assistant chief in 2016 and chief in 2022, Wingbermuehle’s interest and dedication to the fire industry increased, he said.

“It is just a great community to work in and we have a lot of fantastic people who really draw you in,” he said.

Assistant Chief Chuck Hill, who has worked at Rock Fire for the past 37 years and was one of Wingbermuehle’s first officers, said Wingbermuehle has continued to educate himself about the fire service throughout the years.

“The thing about Chief Wing, Kevin, is he has worked so hard to get to where he is at,” Hill said. “He knows the fire service in and out. That is not something that is handed to you. You have to take the time to read, study and go to classes.”

Lineage

The Wingbermuehle family’s involvement in Rock Fire began with Kevin Wingbermuehle’s great-grandfather, William “Big Bill” Wingbermuehle.

William, who Big Bill Road in Arnold was named after, was the first president of the original board of directors when the Rock Community Volunteer Fire Association was formed.

At that time, the all-volunteer department had a station in the basement of an auto repair shop in Arnold.

The association eventually became a district, and Wingbermuehle’s grandfather, Joseph A. Wingbermuehle, was named the first paid chief. He served in the district for 49 years and was chief for 32 years.

Wingbermuehle’s father, Joseph J. Wingbermuehle, was a volunteer firefighter for Rock Fire and worked for the U.S. Postal Service.

Kevin Wingbermuehle said his family sometimes talked about the fire service when they got together, but it did not dominate the conversation.

He said what stood out to him about his family’s involvement in Rock Fire was the times they had to leave gatherings for emergency calls.

“I can remember being at my grandparents’ house, which was right there on Church Road where the VFW sits, for the holidays and a call would come in. The firetruck would stop on Church Road, and half of my family would load up on it to go fight the fire,” Wingbermuehle said. “That is the depiction of community service. There wasn’t a lot of conversation, at least around us kids, about (community service and being firefighters), but there was that visual and action that you saw happening. The selflessness and willingness to drop everything and go when somebody needed help was embedded in us.”

Becoming a leader

Hill said Wingbermuehle started catching Rock Fire administrators’ attention in the early 2000s when he put together a class called the “Axioms of Leadership.”

Every district firefighter attended one of the leadership classes led by Wingbermuehle, Hill said.

He said the classes included a series of challenges which firefighters had to solve with information and materials provided to them.

“It brought us together as a department,” said Hill, adding that Rock Fire will hold a second round of “Axioms of Leadership” classes this month. “That kind of showed the other bosses at the time here that he could be a really good teacher.

“That class he gave was a really big deal for the district at the time. We never had anything like it. That was when you realized he had something special when it came to teaching people, communicating and being a good leader.”

Wingbermuehle said he has never set goals for himself based on rank or power but always knew he wanted to be a captain or company officer.

“It is such a pivotal role on the street,” he said. “It comes with some challenges, but it gives you opportunities to lead.”

After becoming a captain, Wingbermuehle said he moved into an administrative role of deputy chief training officer.

“I felt I was in a position and had the background to fulfill those needs,” he said. “From that point forward, the progression naturally went to assistant chief and then fire chief. I know some people set out with the target that they want to be a fire chief. That wasn’t me. It is just the way it worked out.

“I’m certainly honored and humbled to be in this position.”

Leading

Hill said Wingbermuehle is an easy person to work for because he is open to new ideas.

“Every time I would go to him with a new idea to try something, he was always encouraging and supportive of me,” he said. “He is an easy person to work for because he is open to new ideas. He is the best boss I have ever had in my career.”

Hill also said one of Wingbermuehle’s strengths is the ability to listen and consider different opinions.

“If you don’t agree with him on something, it is OK to go say something,” Hill said. “It is not like he is going to be mad at you or hold it against you. There is a mutual understanding and atmosphere here. That only comes because of him. That is the thing about being a chief; whatever you bring to the table is your choice, and how the department is run is your choice.”

Wingbermuehle said his most important role as chief is to make sure firefighters have everything they need to perform at the highest level.

“Ultimately, the community comes first, but our firefighters have to have training, knowledge, equipment and support to go to work,” he said. “I enjoy the challenges that come with the job. There are so many different aspects of maintaining morale, coaching and mentoring, managing the district and just making sure we are putting the best service possible out there.”

Fire district boards keep an eye on taxpayer money

By Teresa Inserra

Fire departments and fire protection districts have chiefs and other command staff who manage day-to-day operations.

However, there’s an extra layer of oversight provided by city councils or boards that govern municipal fire departments and by boards of directors that oversee fire protection districts, keeping watch over how the agencies use taxpayer money to pay staff, buy equipment and operate them.

According to the Missouri Association of Fire Districts, each fire district is controlled by a board of directors consisting of three to five people elected to six-year terms by voters of the district they represent. The majority of the fire district boards in Jefferson County and Eureka have three members, but some have five members.

Missouri law says board members in a first class county with a charter government like Jefferson County may be paid up to $200 a meeting for a maximum of four meetings a month but no pay for attending more than one meeting in a week. In addition, a board member who serves as the chair may receive up to $50 more per meeting, and a board member who serves as secretary, treasurer or both may receive more pay as determined by the board but no more than $1,000 annually for either one or $2,000 a year if the member serves as both.

Most of the people who serve on fire district boards in Jefferson County and Eureka are paid anywhere from $50 to $200 a month. The Hillsboro Fire Protection District board is the only one that doesn’t receive payment for their service.

Board members describe their duties

Experience in the fire services isn’t required to be elected to a fire district board, but many board members have worked in the industry.

■ Gary Boyer, 53, of Hillsboro, the president of the Hillsboro Fire Protection District Board of Directors, has been involved in fire service for 25 years and has been on the board for five years.

Boyer said serving on a fire district board is important because board members not only keep an eye on finances, but also have the final say on purchases and hiring and firing.

“Nobody wants to pay taxes, but there is a need for what we do, and so the (Hillsboro) board has always taken the stance of we’re not going to give the (fire district) necessarily what they want, but we are going to give them what they need and we’re going to do it conservatively,” he said.

Boyer said most of the time the chief and a committee of firefighters recommend a candidate to be hired.

“We approve or reject,” he said. “We do not micromanage.”

Boyer said if employees are having problems, they are told to go through the chain of command, starting with their captain.

Purchases are handled in a similar way, but he said Hillsboro Fire plans in advance for fleet purchases. When buying a new firetruck, a committee of firefighters decides what they are looking for and gets bids from several companies. The chief presents their recommendation to the board for approval.

Boyer said when they buy a truck, board members want it to last 20 years.

“It has to be in line with what I think the taxpayers of the Hillsboro Protection District would be willing to do,” Boyer said. “I want the people of our district and (who) we help to have the best service that we can provide for them. And that’s the big key. That’s why we are here.

“The (fire district has) evolved into a full-scale disaster service, everything from vehicle accidents, to search and rescues to building collapses. There’s just so much more than it used to be back in the old days where we went out and put somebody’s house (fire) out. And I think the taxpayers understand when their house is on fire, they don’t want to wait 30 minutes for a truck. They are hoping somebody’s at the firehouse getting in the truck to go and we have all the proper equipment for the firemen. We have to have trucks that can get them there.”

■ Ken Baker, 79, of Arnold has served on the Rock Community Fire Protection District board for 13 years and currently is the board chairperson.

Like Boyer, he has a lot of firefighter experience, 40 years with West County EMS and Fire Protection District, where he worked his way up to chief, and then eight years at Rock Fire, serving as assistant fire chief until his retirement.

“Ever since I was a little kid, I have been involved in fire districts,” he said.

Baker said the amount of time he dedicates to the fire board varies from about four to eight hours each week.

He said the most important role as a board member is making sure taxpayers and the firefighters are being treated fairly.

“(And) that we have the proper training for the firefighters to make them top-notch,” Baker said.

He said the most challenging part is making sure the district has the proper funding and “keeping the cost down as much as possible and to provide the best service available.”

■ Jay Katzenberger has been a member of the Jefferson R-7 Board of Directors since 2020. He retired as fire chief there in 2016.

“I was a firefighter and chief,” he said. “I just wanted to assist with my district. I’ve been with the district in some capacity for 60 years.”

As a board member, Katzenberger agreed the taxpayers are his main concern.

“I want to give the best possible protection we can for the money,” he said.

Staff writers Kevin Carbery and Tony Krausz contributed some reporting for this story.

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