Volunteer fire departments from all corners of Nebraska met up in Gering this past weekend to attend the annual conference of the Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighters Association (NSVFA). Scott Schremmer, who serves as President of the Chadron Volunteer Fire Department, was officially elected and inaugurated as President of the association.
Schremmer has served in the fire department and has been a member of the association for 28 years after receiving encouragement to do so from an early mentor, Kourt Hageman, and Pat Gould, a longtime chief of the Chadron Fire Department. His time in office began as 2nd Vice President in 2023. He then moved up the ranks to 1st Vice President in 2024 and will now serve as President for 2025.
Schremmer says he is very pleased with the opportunity to serve the association and represent Chadron. He has missed only three annual conferences in the past 28 years. However he stated that it could not have been possible without support along the way. He sent his deepest gratitude to his wife, Heidi Schremmer, and all the members of the Chadron Fire Department for supporting his journey. “There’s lots of traveling and time on the road away from work and family,” he says. He says his work with the City of Chadron deserves special recognition as well for allowing him to take the appropriate time away to support the association.
Starting in January, Schremmer will assume his duties representing Chadron and the Association in special legislative meetings and then focus on Fire School, NSVFA’s annual training event.
Schremmer is only one of two firefighters from Chadron to serve as President of the Association, with the first being Gealy Mathis.
It was also a big weekend for fire chief Branden Martens. Martens handed over the gavel as President of the Nebraska Fire Chief’s Association, a title he held for two terms. Martens is one of only three fire chief’s from Chadron to serve as President.
CVFD members Pat O’Brien and Lynn Webster were also recognized at the conference for 25 years of service and affiliation with the association.