After 35 years of service, a Clear Lake firefighter is retiring.

 

Assistant Chief Steve Schrader began his career with the Clear Lake Fire Dept. in 1980 after his parents moved to Central Minnesota in 1971. Schrader attended Becker High School and graduated in 1975.

 

Though Schrader’s official last day wasn’t until this week, last February he was honored for his years of service at the department’s annual banquet where friends and family attended and gave him a proper send-off.

 

Schrader had always wanted to be a firefighter since he was around seven or eight years old and when he came of age, he took the leap and decided to become a public servant. The path was already paved for him as Steve’s father had spent many years as a firefighter with the Coon Rapids FD.

 

In the late ‘70s, Schrader started getting to know some of the area firefighters and showed up at a few calls to see if he could help in some small way. One of the firefighters suggested he just join up and after Schrader denoted an interest, the firefighter brought his name forward at the next council meeting and Steve was appointed to the department.

 

Back in 1980 when Schrader started, the CLFD was responding to maybe 25 calls a year and most of those were in the category of grass and wildfires. Back in those days, firefighters were — firefighters — and were not called upon to aid in rescue and emergency efforts like they are today.

 

Over the years as a CLFD firefighter, Schrader acquired training to be an EMR (Emergency Medical Responder) and was an EMT for the Monticello/Big Lake Hospital back in the day. He has also received a state fire license at Levels 1 and 2 and also was trained in hazardous material awareness.

 

Numerous changes in vehicles, procedure, techniques and equipment have also occurred in his 35 years of service but Schrader says two things stand out as being key to the improvement to fire operations and safety.

 

“The personal protection equipment we’ve utilized over the years has gotten so much better for firefighters to be able to see things, to breathe better and the gear is lighter,” said Schrader. “Also, the training has improved drastically.”

 

Schrader remembers a call he responded to early in his career where a van had collided with a train just north of Clear Lake. Schrader was one of the first on site and he remembers there was little they could do other than put the fire out and wait for medical responders to arrive. Four people died in the horrific accident.

 

Another call that sticks out in Steve’s mind is the Christmas Eve fire that burned the Wayne & Don’s Bar in Clear Lake to the ground — one of Clear Lake’s biggest fires in their history. Schrader had worked the holiday night and morning battling the blaze and remembers when he got home at 6 a.m. covered in soot and feeling tired and beat.

 

“My son, who was probably around five or six, had come down when I got home expecting to celebrate Christmas and open presents,” said Schrader. “I ended up sending him back to bed so I could get cleaned up and get in about an hour nap.”

 

The fire at Wayne & Don’s was suspected arson and the business was never rebuilt.

 

Schrader has no big plans in his retirement other than “take things as they come and slow things down”.

 

“Marsha (wife) may retire ina few years and that’ll give us more time to be  a bigger part of our grandkids’ lives, go on a few more motorcycle rides and do some more camping,” he said.

 

He said he's looking forward to the next chapter in his life.

 

“The main thing I’m gonna miss about not being part of the CLFD is the comradery,” said Schrader.  “It’s a family thing being part of a group of firefighters like this and the people there are committed and they deserve recognition for their years of service too. Those 25 public servants are dedicated to helping their community every day.”

 

Schrader has worked with many individuals who have had longer  and shorter tenures than he, but they are still incredibly important to the fraternity of firefighters.

“I appreciate all the support from my fellow firefighters both current and retired,” he said. “And I want to thank Chief Ron Koren for being there for me through the years and supporting and encouraging me on the job. I appreciate the faith he had in me.

 

Schrader, who works  as an Energy Supply Tech Training Supervisor for Xcel Energy, is married (Marsha - 37 years) and they have three grown children (Nick, 36, Luke, 34 and Kelly, 32). The Schraders live just south of Clearwater.