TORRINGTON – The Torrington Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary consists of the supporting women of the members of the Torrington Fire Department. As shown through previous donations collected during the Pleasant Valley and Haystack Fires earlier this summer, without their support, firefighters would be left without health and safety supplies during a time of community crisis when resources are not available. 

 “We are wives, daughters, mothers, of the current department, but it’s welcome to sisters and family of the department, to have a direct tie of the department. So, it’s not exactly an open group, and open auxiliary,” Brooke Gasseling, wife of a Torrington Volunteer Fire Department (TVFD) fireman, explained. 

The idea of the Torrington auxiliary chapter is an idea of Gasseling. Although she takes credit for bringing the idea of the ladies’ auxiliary to the department, she contributes its success to her fellow female counterpart.

“My husband is on the fire department, and he was on the fire department in Potter, (Nebraska). I know they used to have auxiliary, so that’s kind of where I got the idea of it from. But I would never go on a fire, that is his job. I love the fire department itself; I love the people on the department, and I want to be involved but I’ll do anything but go on a fire call,” Gasseling said. 

Gasseling loves to support the fire community, just from afar. She and the auxiliary support the local firefighters by providing necessities during and after tough fire calls. They also help care for community members that have been influenced by the fires, according to their social media page. More recently, they have been working on a few more events to help support the community. 

Saturday, September 7, the auxiliary is hosting their second 5k color run beginning at Jirdon Park. The map for this run is available on their Facebook page. This run will include color, water, weather permitting, prizes, and community. Prizes are available for three groups, men, women, and ages 12 and under. The top three contestants will be awarded varying totals of Goshen Bucks. 

Instead of relying entirely on donations, the auxiliary is providing activities for the community members to raise the money. The auxiliary is hosting this event, first and foremost, to connect with the community. The auxiliary wants to connect with our locals and get to know them. Secondarily, to raise money for our firefighters. The little bit of funding the ladies will get from the run will be put toward the essentials they provide during calls and the ladies’ brunch for the convention next summer, Gasseling explained to the Telegram. 

“Everyone should come down to Pioneer Park next summer. Summer of 2025, for state fire convention on Father’s Day weekend. It goes that Thursday, Friday, Saturday (June 12-14, 2025) Father’s Day weekend, there’s teams from across Wyoming,” Gasseling explained. “We’re trying to get more Goshen County teams because there’s a lot of fun.”

The convention is an event where statewide departments compete in a series of competitive relays in association fire suppression and association. Torrington’s department was extremely successful in this year’s convention hosted in Afton, setting a new record as seen on Facebook.

Next year, the firemen will be hosting the 2025 Wyoming State Fire Convention right here in Torrington for the first time in a very long time. Gasseling thinks a large attendance for such an important event would be a great way to show support for our local firefighters and their auxiliary ladies.