The New Germany Fire Department’s members include: top – Shelly Quaas, Mark Unglaub, Lyle Latzig, Dan Mielke, Jason Schmidt, John Klaustermeier; middle row – Jerry Clasen, Brian Roy, Nathan Roepke, Kevin Pawelk, Eric Roepke, Steve VanLith, Mike Miller, Greg Miller, Todd Lehrke; bottom row – Ria Rohland, John Lenarz, Bruce Fillbrandt, Mary Fillbrandt, Ryan Goede, Karen Paul, and Paul Roepke. Not pictured: Daniel Ruschmeier, Nick Hartwig, Travis Kubasch, Nathan Fillbrandt, Jerry Goede, Gerald Roepke, Lowell Latzig, and Ed Ekdahl.

The department serves a fire protection zone that covers the City of New Germany, and parts of Camden and Hollywood townships. The department currently includes 24 regular members, two fire reserve members, and two rescue reserve members. Officers include Steve VanLith - fire chief, Todd Lehrke - assistant fire chief, Dan Ruschmeier - first captain, Kevin Pawelk - second captain, Greg Miller - lieutenant, Travis Kubasch - lieutenant, Ryan Goede - lieutenant, Eric Roepke - president and Shelly Quaas - secretary.

Anyone who lives or works within the fire protection zone served by the department is eligible to volunteer for membership. Physical and other requirements must be met. Contact any fire department officer for more information on joining this honorable crew.

An important part of being a firefighter involves a lot of intense training. All members of the department participate in regular ongoing training in a variety of areas. The department holds one training meeting every month, and in addition to this, members participate in classes and training events throughout the year. One of the goals of the department is to make sure firefighters are always prepared to deal with the situations they may encounter.

Training is more important than ever because the nature of fire fighting has evolved so much over the years.

The equipment that is available to fight fires has also evolved, and this is another reason that ongoing training is so important. Firefighters must be comfortable with and understand the equipment before they are called upon to use it at a fire scene.

New Germany Fire Department past chiefs are the following: Conrad Neustel, 1902; JJ Schlecter, 1903-1907; Albert Groenke, 1908-1910; HD Mielke/Wm. Stender, 1911; Wm. Stender/Albert Groenke, 1912-1916; Wm. Stender, 1917-1919; Fred Hein, 1920; Gust Lohrke, 1921-1922; Fred Hein, 1923-1924; Oscar Trittabaugh, 1925; Hy Steinke, 1925; Herman Roepke, 1926-1933; Herman Briesemeister, 1934; Herman Roepke, 1935-1945; Albert Lueck, 1946; Louis Mielke, 1947; Ralph Stahlke, 1948-1965; Viron Roepke, 1965-1967; Harlan Wolter, 1968-1991; Steve VanLith, 1991-2003; Bruce Fillbrandt, 2004; Steve Van Lith, 2005-present.