The Wayzata Fire Department will hold its annual Pancake Breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday, Sept. 20, at Wayzata City Hall, 600 Rice St. E.
Firefighters will serve pancakes, French toast and sausage, along with coffee and juice. The morning will also include a raffle and an opportunity for visitors to see fire trucks and meet members of the department.
The breakfast is free and open to the public. Free-will donations will be accepted, with proceeds benefiting the Wayzata Fire Relief Association, which supports department equipment needs and firefighter retirement benefits.
Students and staff were evacuated from Wayzata West Middle School Thursday morning after an electrical fire broke out in a first-floor bathroom.
No students or staff members were injured in the Sept. 17 fire at the school, 149 Barry Ave. N. Two adults were evaluated at the scene for possible smoke inhalation and released by North Memorial Health paramedics.
According to the City of Wayzata, a Wayzata Police Department school resource officer notified Hennepin County Dispatch of the fire at approximately 9:40 a.m.
Wayzata police and firefighters responded, and the school was evacuated while crews dealt with the fire.
The Hennepin County Fire Investigation Team later determined that the fire began in the ceiling and was electrical in origin. Investigators found no indication of suspicious or criminal activity.
Wayzata firefighters were assisted by the Plymouth, Shoreline and West Suburban fire departments, along with the Plymouth Police Department and other emergency personnel.
The Wayzata Fire Department has placed a new 2026 Pierce Ascendant 110-foot ladder truck into service, replacing a ladder truck that had served the department for approximately 30 years.
The new apparatus brings greater reach, increased water capacity and improved maneuverability for firefighters responding throughout Wayzata.
Despite having a longer ladder, the Pierce has a shorter overall vehicle length than the truck it replaces. Its single rear axle also provides greater maneuverability — an important consideration on Wayzata’s hills, narrow streets and tighter locations.
The truck is designed to be quicker and easier to position and set up at a fire scene. It carries 500 gallons of water, compared with 200 gallons on the department’s previous ladder truck, and has pumping capacity of up to 1,500 gallons per minute, compared with 1,250 gallons per minute on the previous apparatus.
Traditional Push-In Ceremony Marks Start of Service
Members of the Wayzata Fire Department and Wayzata City Council marked the truck’s arrival with a traditional push-in ceremony on the evening of Sept. 1.
During the ceremony, firefighters and City Council members joined together to push the new ladder truck into the fire station, formally marking the beginning of its service in Wayzata.
Push-in ceremonies are a longstanding fire service tradition associated with the days of horse-drawn firefighting equipment, when firefighters would manually push apparatus back into the station after returning from a call.
Residents Can See New Truck This Fall
Residents will have two upcoming opportunities to get a closer look at the new ladder truck and learn more about the equipment.
The Wayzata Fire Department’s annual Pancake Breakfast is scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Sept. 15.
The truck will also be featured during the City of Wayzata’s annual City Showcase, scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5.
The new ladder truck represents a significant update to one of the department’s most important pieces of emergency equipment and is expected to serve Wayzata firefighters and residents for years to come.
Kevin Klapprich speaking at the City Council. Image courtesy City of Wayzata.
The Wayzata City Council marked a milestone in the city’s public-safety history Tuesday, Aug. 5, formally swearing in Kevin Klapprich as Wayzata’s first full-time fire chief and recognizing him with a Lifesaving Award.
Klapprich officially began serving in the full-time position June 29, following 47 years with the Wayzata Fire Department and approximately 20 years as chief.
The appointment represents a significant investment in the department and the community while continuing a multigenerational tradition of fire service within the Klapprich family. His father, Paul Klapprich, served for many years as Wayzata’s fire chief, and his brothers have also served with the department.
Paul Klapprich joined his son at the ceremony and pinned the fire chief’s badge following the oath of office.
Council members recognized the sacrifices made not only by Klapprich, but also by his family and the families of Wayzata’s paid-on-call firefighters. They praised the department’s longstanding presence at emergencies, civic gatherings and neighborhood events, describing its members as some of the most visible representatives of the community.
The ceremony adds another chapter to a department whose modern organization dates to 1921 and whose service has long depended upon local residents willing to answer calls at every hour.
Chief Honored for June 4 Rescue
Before Klapprich addressed the council, the city presented him with a Lifesaving Award for his response to a June 4 appliance fire at 190 Wayzata Boulevard East.
Klapprich was the first firefighter to arrive and found a stove fire spreading up the back wall and into the cupboards. A Wayzata police officer identified as Officer Davidson arrived shortly afterward, and the two used fire extinguishers to slow the flames until additional firefighters and equipment reached the building.
During the response, Klapprich heard a resident on an upper floor while heavy smoke was filling the building. He entered the structure, helped the resident down the stairs and brought the person safely outside.
The resident was transported to a hospital for smoke inhalation and later recovered. City officials said Klapprich’s swift response saved the resident’s life.
“I Didn’t Get Here Alone”
Klapprich thanked his family, current and former Wayzata firefighters, city staff, elected officials, residents, businesses and fellow firefighters from throughout the region.
He reflected on the holidays and family gatherings interrupted through the years when he and other family members left the table to answer emergency calls.
“I look forward to serving the city with fairness, kindness, and humility,” Klapprich said.
He credited the many people who supported him throughout his career and helped prepare him for the department’s new chapter.
“I am here because of an army of people who did an awful lot for me along the way,” Klapprich said. “I didn’t get here alone.”
He concluded by describing the opportunity as an honor and saying he was deeply humbled by the confidence placed in him.
The council then recessed briefly as Klapprich, his family, firefighters and city officials gathered for photographs—commemorating both a personal achievement and a historic moment for the Wayzata Fire Department.
WAYZATA, MN — Neighbors across Wayzata will gather for block parties, cookouts and community activities tonight as the city celebrates its annual Night to Unite tradition.
Photos from Last years Night to Unite gathering.
The event runs from 5:15 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, at registered neighborhood gatherings throughout Wayzata and Long Lake. The community has participated in Night to Unite for more than 40 years, bringing residents together while strengthening relationships between neighborhoods and local public-safety officials.
Throughout the evening, representatives from the Wayzata Police Department, Wayzata Fire Department, city staff and elected officials will travel between participating block parties. Police cars and fire trucks will make appearances, with children receiving small giveaways and visitors sharing crime-prevention information.
The gatherings also give residents an informal opportunity to meet police officers, firefighters, city employees and local elected leaders, ask questions and learn more about the people serving the community.
Unlike a single citywide festival, Night to Unite takes place within individual neighborhoods. Gatherings may include shared meals, games, music and other family activities organized by residents and neighborhood hosts.
At its heart, the evening is about encouraging neighbors to know one another. Those relationships can help create stronger, safer neighborhoods by making it easier for residents to communicate, recognize when something is out of place and look out for one another throughout the year.
Residents with questions about Wayzata’s Night to Unite activities may contact the Wayzata Police Department at 952-404-5340.
The City of Wayzata and the Wayzata Fire Department have announced the appointment of Kevin Klapprich as Wayzata’s first full-time fire chief, effective June 29, 2026.
Klapprich has served with the Wayzata Fire Department since 1978 and has been fire chief since 2006. His move into the newly created full-time position marks a significant milestone for the department and reflects the expanding responsibilities of the role in serving Wayzata and the surrounding community.
“Chief Klapprich has exemplified dedication, integrity, and care for our community throughout his years of service,” said City Manager Aurora Yager. “His steady commitment made this an easy decision. We are thrilled to congratulate him on becoming our first full-time Fire Chief and look forward to the continued leadership he will bring to Wayzata and Woodland.”
For Klapprich, the appointment continues a lifetime of service rooted deeply in Wayzata.
“I am honored and humbled to be appointed the City’s first full-time Fire Chief. It is a privilege to continue leading the dedicated firefighters who give so much to this community,” said Chief Klapprich. “Wayzata has always been my home, and serving alongside generations of firefighters — including my father and brothers — has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I look forward to building on the department’s proud tradition of service, strengthening our partnerships throughout the community, and ensuring we continue to provide exceptional emergency response for the residents, businesses, and visitors of the community.”
The appointment recognizes both Klapprich’s long record of service and the evolving demands placed on the department. After nearly five decades with the Wayzata Fire Department, including 20 years as chief, Klapprich now steps into a full-time leadership role at a moment when emergency response, training, planning, equipment, inspections, and community partnerships continue to grow in importance.
WAYZATA — Hundreds of residents gathered outside Wayzata City Hall on Monday evening for the annual City of Wayzata Showcase, a lively community event celebrating the city’s departments, public safety teams, and local services.
Held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 600 Lake Street East, the event transformed the City Hall and public works campus into a festival-like atmosphere. Children laughed and played in the bounce house, lined up for face painting, and watched fire demonstrations, while families enjoyed hot dogs, giveaways, and K9 demonstrations. The popular Touch-a-Truckdisplay gave kids the chance to climb aboard everything from fire engines and squad cars to snowplows and excavators.
The Wayzata Police Department, Wayzata Fire Department, and Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office were all on hand, giving the public a chance to meet officers, explore emergency vehicles, and learn more about their roles in keeping the community safe. The parking lot was filled with public safety vehicles, their lights flashing in the autumn dusk as families moved from display to display.
Formerly known as Public Safety Day, the annual showcase has grown into a citywide open house that highlights the teamwork between departments and encourages residents to engage with the people who serve their community every day.
As the sun set over Lake Minnetonka, the final fire demonstration lit up the evening sky — a fitting close to an event that blended fun, education, and hometown pride in classic Wayzata fashion.
The Wayzata Fire Department welcomed three new firefighters — James Botham, Mickey Leius, and Cooper Rasmus — during a swearing-in ceremony at the October 7, 2025, City Council meeting. Their appointments bring the department’s active roster to 27 of 30 authorized positions.
Cooper Rasmus, Mickey Leius, and James Botham.
Fire Chief Kevin Klapprich introduced each recruit as Interim City Manager Mike Kelly administered the oath of office.
James Botham
A second-generation Wayzata firefighter, Botham grew up around the station watching his father, Brian Botham, serve more than 35 years with the department. He first joined the ranks in 2008 after high school and returned in 2023 “with a renewed sense of purpose and passion for the fire service.”
Botham resides in Wayzata with his girlfriend Sarah, their puppy Amber, and cat Finch. He is actively working toward a full-time fire service career and enjoys hiking, traveling, and weekends at the family cabin.
Mickey Leius
A lifelong member of the Wayzata community, Leius is the son of Scott and Maryland Leius and a graduate of Wayzata High School. He went on to Des Moines Area Community College and Concordia University – St. Paul, earning a degree in Sports Management while playing college baseball.
Leius has served as a volunteer firefighter since April 2024 and works as a property manager for Boulevard Management and Advisory in Minneapolis. He also coaches baseball as an assistant varsity coach at Wayzata High School and previously coached at Edina High School. Known for his team-first attitude, Leius said he is honored to continue serving the community he calls home.
Cooper Rasmus
A 2024 Wayzata High School graduate, Rasmus grew up in Wayzata and Minnetonka with parents Colleen and Joe and siblings Emerson, Easton, Porter, and Vincent — the youngest of whom, he joked, “is pretty sure to be a firefighter one day.”
A 14-year veteran of Wayzata hockey, Rasmus brings youthful energy and a long-term commitment to the department, quipping that he hopes “to serve the City of Wayzata for the next 72 years.” He enjoys time outdoors, fishing, hunting, and being on the lake with friends and family.
Chief Klapprich thanked the new members for their service and reaffirmed the department’s goal of maintaining a full complement of 30 firefighters to meet the community’s growing needs.
Those interested in joining the department should reach out to 952-404-5338.
These photos, taken this morning, show the Wayzata Fire Department carrying out its 23rd annual 9/11 remembrance. Since 2002, firefighters have raised the American flag from the ladder truck on the Broadway Avenue bridge over Highway 12, honoring the lives lost and the heroism shown on September 11.
The Wayzata Fire Department will welcome the community to its 9th Annual Pancake Breakfast event on Sunday, September 14, from 8 a.m. to noon at 600 Rice Street East.
The family-friendly fundraiser will feature pancakes, French toast, sausage, coffee, juice, and a raffle, with all proceeds going to the Wayzata Fire Relief Association. Organizers expect to serve between 700 and 900 guests, continuing a tradition that began in 2015. Two years were missed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the breakfast has since rebounded as one of the department’s most popular events.
Funds raised will go directly toward purchasing essential safety equipment for the city’s firefighters. Wayzata Fire Chief Kevin Klapprich said the community’s generosity makes a direct impact: every dollar helps ensure firefighters have the gear and tools they need to respond effectively.
The event is open to the public, with donations accepted at will. Guests are encouraged to come hungry and support the firefighters who serve Wayzata year-round.
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