HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981 03-04 Schadt retires from front line, but will stay on as fire marshal THE REVIEW Schadt retires from front line ,
but will stay on as fire marshal
By MARY LEE HAGERT IN 1968,SCHADT accepted the full-time . q
job of fire marshal. Three years ago he ,
After serving nearly 31 years on the was elected president of the Minnesota
Gladstone Maplewood Fire Dept., Al State Fire Department Association. He
Schadt,1384 Ripley Ave.,Maplewood,has was the first candidate from the Twin , 4, �,
retired. Cities area elected to this office.Last year '` ._ '.� :a`
Before retiring on March 1, Schadt, 52, he was re-elected to the position.
was the longest serving volunteer fire During his nearly 32 years of fire
`'' fighter in Maplewood.He also served one fighting, Schadt estimates he has an-
year on the North St. Paul Fire Depart- swered between 4,000 and 5,000
C4+, ment. emergency alarms of all types, from fire
\ Schadt is Maplewood's fire marshal and and rescue to medical.
.. will continue to work in that capacity. He While a member of the Gladstone 0 . .:1
says he is retiring from active fire Department, his scariest predicament
fighting to devote more of his time to fire didn't involve battling a fire,Schadt says.
prevention. Instead,it occurred about 11 years ago,
His years of fire fighting service did not when he delivered a Maplewood woman's
pass unnoticed. baby in the back of a station wagon. The
On Saturday,he was named "Fireman firemen were rushing the woman to the
of the Year"by the Knights of Columbus hospital, but did not make it to the
Council No.4021.He was awarded a large medical facility in time. The baby was Al Schadt
trophy at a banquet hosted by the Knights born just outside the hospital entrance, "My association with the department
of Columbus and attended by over 300 fire Schadt recalls. over the years has been exciting,pleasant
fighters from Ramsey County. When asked about the worst blaze he and very rewarding. I feel very fortunate
Schadt was nominated for the award by has encountered, Schadt quickly that I was accepted as a member back in
R.J. (Jerry) Kasmirski, chief of the responds, the Gem Store fire on Aug. 28, 1949," Schadt says.
Gladstone Maplewood Fire Department. 1967.The fire started at 4:20 p.m. and he When the Gladstone siren goes off, Al
In his nomination letter,Kasmirski says, was at the scene for 36 hours.The building says he will probably continue to feel an
Schadt"started his career at 19 years of was an 80 percent loss due to the "very urge to grab his jacket and bolt out his
age. During the years following as an hot,stubborn fire,"Schadt recollects.The door toward the station near the
outstanding fire fighter,he held offices as store was located at the southeast corner Maplewood City Hall.
engineer, captain, assistant chief and of the intersection of Highways 61 and 36. He adds quickly, that his retiring from
then as chief of Gladstone Fire Depart- WHEN SCHADT joined the Gladstone active fire fighting does not mean he will
meet." Fire Department in June 1949, the force stay away from emergencies and fires in
Kasmirski continues, "He was in- had 18 members, who operated out of a Maplewood. "If the situation is serious
strumental in starting the Maplewood makeshift two-vehicle garage that did not enough to warrant my attention as fire
Fire Fighters Relief Association,bringing have toilet facilities. It was in what was marshal, then I'll go to the scene."
together three independent associations then called New Canada Township. On the evening of April 11, Schadt will
into one that now gives a pension to over Today,the department has two modern be honored at an open house at the
150 fire fighters in Maplewood." stations and 63 members. Gladstone station.