Dave Dreelan joined the Mendota Heights Fire Department in 1990, following in the footsteps of his father.
“It was evident to me from a young age that the Department was an important part of the community and the firefighters really valued being members,” Dreelan reflects. “After I graduated from college, I moved back to Mendota Heights. One night I ran into a few firefighters I knew; they told me the Department was hiring and suggested I apply. The rest is history.”
Now, after 35 years of service and rising through the ranks as a captain, training officer, assistant chief and chief, he is set to retire in January 2025. Looking back, Dave has seen many advances in the fire service over the years.
“One of the biggest changes I’ve seen is how technology and advancements in apparatus have significantly improved our operations – I remember when we thought having a computer in a fire truck was a crazy concept, now they are just as important to our operations as boots and gloves are,” he said.
Dreelan has also served in a full-time capacity with the Plymouth Fire Department since 2003; he will retire as deputy fire chief after 21 years of service with the City of Plymouth, in December 2024. But memories of serving on the Mendota Heights Fire Department will always hold a special place in his heart.
“On my dad’s last day with the Department, we were called to a car fire on Highway 35E. We were both in the back seat of the truck so that meant that we got to be on the hose line together,” remembers Dave. “After we got the fire out, a State Patrol officer overheard us talking about how cool it was to work a fire together on his last day – he thought it was a momentous occasion too, so he stopped traffic allowing us to take a photo together at the scene.”
As he anticipates his retirement, Dreelan is especially thankful to those who have mentored and supported him through the years, especially his family.
“Being a firefighter is not easy, for many different reasons, and our families share in that burden. Family activities, holiday plans and countless meals often had to take a back seat to my schedule and emergency calls,” he said. “Without the incredible support and understanding of my wife and our two daughters, I could have not done this job. Thanks Stacy, Kally and Ellie!”
Congratulations on an outstanding career, Chief Dreelan. We’re grateful for your service to the Mendota Heights community, we wish you well as you take time to enjoy your favorite pastimes, and we hope to see you on a local pickleball court soon!
A Message from Mayor Stephanie Levine
We are incredibly thankful for Chief Dave Dreelan's outstanding commitment and exceptional service to the Mendota Heights community for more than three decades. We wish him all the best as he takes time to enjoy his well-earned retirement. Thanks to Chief Dreelan's forethought and succession planning, he leaves the Department in good hands. The selection process has already begun for the next Mendota Heights fire chief, to be announced in December 2024.