Vinny Desiderio, Jr. has officially stepped into the role of LCO Fire Chief, beginning his tenure on August 27 after a year of volunteering with the department.

Born in K‑Town and now residing in Whitefish, Desiderio emphasized that serving his community is both an honor and a responsibility he takes seriously.

In his statement, Desiderio shared, “I’d like to first start out by thanking the LCO Tribal Council for the opportunity to serve as LCO’s next fire chief. I’m proud and honored to fill this role and work with the great volunteers who are part of the LCO Fire Department. My heart’s always going to be with LCO. Moving forward, I’d like to get our department trained up and get it up to par to provide the best service that LCO deserves.”

The LCO Fire Department currently has 23 volunteers, and Desiderio has accepted nine new applications, which will soon be reviewed by fire and EMS personnel.

His short‑term goal is clear: ensure every member receives training to meet fire and rescue standards.

Training is already underway. On September 5, 2026, eight students—seven from LCO and one from Winter—completed the Entry Level Driver/Operator Course at the LCO Fire Hall, taught through Northwood Technical College.

Desiderio himself has prepared extensively for this role, completing: EMR Course at LCOOU, Entry Level Firefighter Parts A & B, currently working on Part C, Commercial Driver’s License Heavy Equipment Operator Certification, Pump & Water Relay Training, Ice Water Rescue Operations (in‑house), and Propane Emergency Certification.

Desiderio has set a long‑term goal to establish a basic ambulance service for the reservation—an initiative that would significantly enhance emergency medical response for the LCO community.

Please join us in congratulating Desiderio and thanking him for his service.