Letcher fire chief steps down after nearly five decades of leadership

Letcher fire chief steps down after nearly five decades of leadership

LETCHER, S.D. — For 50 years, when the call came in, Rodney Clarambeau didn’t hesitate. Whether he was in town or out in the field, the longtime Letcher Volunteer Fire Department member made it a habit to stop what he was doing, shut down equipment and respond. “You just get it in your mind that when that call comes in, you shut the tractor off and go,” Clarambeau said. That mindset defined his career — including 48 years as fire chief — and con…