Austin Schroeder has been a volunteer firefighter for the Wagner Fire Department for the past 10 years. For Austin, being a firefighter is a family affair. His father, Roger Schroeder, was on the Wagner Fire Department for 27 years. When Roger decided to retire from the fire department, Austin decided that he would fill his dad’s spot.

When asked why he first decided to join the department, Austin said that he had been around it his whole life. He used to go in and help with the firetruck checks and was hooked on being a part of the Wagner Firefighter Department ever since. Austin has also gotten to see and experience firsthand the friendships that being a part of the department creates as well as the fact that it also allows him to help people in his own community.

For Austin, there are some qualities that are important for a firefighter to possess. The first being having the ability to slow down even though adrenaline is running high; learning how to process the adrenaline is very important in high stress situations because it allows the firefighter to make a bad situation better. Being a firefighter requires the ability to always be willing and able to learn. For new firemen, it is important to learn all the dos and don’ts of being a firefighter. One of the most important duties of a firefighter is going into an uncomfortable situation and making it seem ok for both other firemen and possible rescuees.

Austin is currently the secretary/ treasurer of the Wagner Volunteer Fire Department. He keeps track of the bank account, submits fire reports to the state, records and contacts insurance companies and keeps track of training hours/fire calls that the department responds to. Austin has completed his first year of two years in the position. He will then ascend to assistant chief and then chief serving in each position for two years.

Being a firefighter has had a profound impact on influencing Austin’s perspective on life and family. Seeing people’s reactions when the truck and crew show up on scene makes all the volunteer hours worth it. Being a firefighter is not for everyone, but it is a special feeling that one gets when being able to positively help out a situation that the fire department is called to. As firefighters they go through difficult situations and need to be able to lean on each other to get through them. These feelings and emotions are not found in too many other places and helps form a special bond between firefighters.

Austin has completed his firefighter one and two training and tries to attend the annual fire school every 2-3 years when he can.

When asked what is something that as a firefighter that the community may not know that they have to do or is something that the department does, Austin said that 50 % of being a volunteer firefighter is showing up to calls. It is very important to be able to take the call when the fire whistle blows. As a department they do a lot of training, working on trucks/equipment and trying to find funding for gear. There is a lot of behind the scenes work that goes into being a fire department that does not involve sirens or flashing lights. It is a business and like any business takes time and resources.

Austin is also a rescue diver for the Charles-Mix Emergency Management Dive Team. He is married to his wife, Brittany and they have three children Aspyn, Asher and Audryk. Austin is the owner of S & S Masonry. In his free time, he and his family enjoy camping, hanging out at the river and doing anything outdoors.

Thank you, Austin, for your service and dedication to the Wagner community.