New statue to honor Sioux Falls firefighters

Sioux Falls will soon have a permanent monument to honor firefighters throughout the city's history.

The Sioux Falls Firefighters Benevolent Foundation will announce plans Wednesday to fundraise $250,000 for a 6-foot bronze statue of two firefighters. The statue would be placed outside Sioux Falls Fire Rescue headquarters on 37th Street and Minnesota Avenue in front of a wall with the names of every firefighter to serve in the department's 134 years.

"Sioux Falls does not have a monument to honor the tradition of firefighting in our community. It is time," said Garett Dulaney, the foundation's president. "We are excited to launch the fundraising efforts for this project, and have this beautiful bronze monument here in Sioux Falls."

The Sioux Falls Firefighters Benevolent Foundation is a non-profit whose mission is to provide relief to victims experiencing loss because of fire-related incidents. They also provide support to local non-profit charities who provide assistance to those in need.

The group started fundraising in October and is accepting donations through a PayPal account posted on its Facebook page, as well as through the mail. Commemorative bricks to be placed along the monument will also be sold to raise money.

A life-size clay model of the statue is being created by local sculptor Darwin Wolf, whose father and uncle were firefighters.

Wolf said he is honored to be part of the project, and hopes it will serve as a reminder to firefighters that they are heroes.

"They forget that there are a huge number of kids who grow up wanting to be firemen… and I really do think firefighters forget that," Wolf said. "Not only is this kind of a reminder to the great people we have working for us, I think it should be a reminder to firefighters they are bigger than life to us."

After the money is raised and the statue complete, it will be presented as a gift to the City of Sioux Falls.

"When we look at the sacrifice the firefighters have made in the last 134 years, there has been no acknowledgment for those firefighters," said Jim Sideras, Sioux Falls fire chief. "This will symbolize the work they have done throughout the years."

Donations can be mailed to PO Box 340, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57101.

Or made through a Paypal account listed in their Facebook page.