Safety First newsletter
| Current issue: Aug. 4, 2026 | Subscribe to Safety First today |
State Fire Marshal: Working behind the scenes of Minnesota’s wildfire response
When wildfires ignite across northern Minnesota, the response stretches far beyond the frontlines.
Inside the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Blaine, the work is quieter — but just as critical.
The Blaine facility, just over a year old, is where representatives from state, local, federal, Tribal and nonprofit agencies can gather with one shared mission: protecting the state’s residents, visitors and businesses.
Learn more about how the SEOC works in our Safety Matters blog.
Office of Traffic Safety: ‘Then I got angry…’ Two families ask drivers to follow the law and slow down
It was a beautiful day on April 4, 2021, when Veronica Ford saw the police officer approaching her house. She thought it was another person wishing her condolences after her father’s funeral, which was held the day before.
Then the officer asked her if Dalton Lee Ford was her son.
“He said I need you to hold my hands,” Veronica remembered. “So, I held his hands, and he told me.”
He told Veronica that her son, Dalton, and his girlfriend, Tayler Garza, were killed in a car crash that morning. When their vehicle was making a left turn on County Road 42 near Burnsville, they were struck by a white Chrysler.
Hear from the families in our Safety Matters blog.
Commissioner’s Corner: Keep your vehicle safe from theft
Chances are good you need your car to get through daily life — commuting to work, running errands, and getting kids to and from school and activities. Having it stolen would be a major disruption.
Avoid the hassle and follow the number one tip for preventing your car from being stolen: Never, ever, leave your keys in your vehicle.
Get more tips on keeping your car safe from theft from our Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Featured social media
In Minnesota, we never miss a chance to get outside and enjoy summer. And even the hot, muggy weather could not keep the Rochester community away from the Safe City Nights event last week.
Members of our Department of Public Safety team chatted with attendees about how we promote safe communities in Rochester and across the state.
If your community is hosting an event or gathering and you’d like us to be a part of it, we’d love to connect: dps.mn.gov/divisions/ca/our-work
About the newsletter
We are here to keep people safe and improve the lives of those who live, work and play in Minnesota.
Part of that is making sure you have all the information you need to make safe decisions for your loved ones.
Safety First brings that information to you every other week along with updates on what we are doing to serve you, the people of Minnesota.