Langer retires as EFD chief, Peterson steps into role

ELLSWORTH – After 24 years as chief and 39 years serving as a firefighter, Brent Langer is hanging up his gear for retirement. Langer was a leader in the community for many years and aided pivotal changes for a successful station and fire association in Ellsworth.

Langer made his home in his hometown of Ellsworth. He has always lived in the community.

“I’ve lived in Ellsworth my whole life; I’ve never felt the need to leave, this is my community,” Langer said.

After deciding he would retire from the chief position, he also decided his time as a firefighter would end after many years. Now he hopes to focus more on his career as a Certified Public Accountant and spend more time with his family.

Langer has always prioritized his life outside of firefighting and gives the same advice to future firefighters.

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Chief Brent Langer’s white helmet was a familiar sight on countless Ellsworth Fire calls over the years. It was reassuring to know someone who cared so much was on hand to help, along with a dedicated team. Photo courtesy of Ellsworth Fire Department FIRE DEPARTMENT

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“Remember that they are volunteers, remember they have families and jobs and I always told them that your family should come first, your job should come second and we would like EFD (Ellsworth Fire Department) to be the third priority,” Langer advised.

Assistant Fire Chief Syd Hardy has worked closely with Langer for a long time. The memories are numerous in nearly two decades as colleagues.

“I’ve been in the fire department for 19 years, so I have worked closely with Brent,” Hardy said. “He recruited me through the school a little before when the new department was opening. I was one of the original members of the southern station.

We have a lot of good memories together over the last 19 years; it’s hard to just pick one good memory. I always asked him questions and he mentored me when I first became the assistant fire chief and he helped me to step into that role and we became really good friends over the years.”

Langer commends the many people who have worked with the fire association to make it well functioning.

“There are a lot of people who have had a hand in making this association run well,” Langer said. “Two chairmen that I really want to thank are Dick Bunce and Jim Harris. They have really helped with the communication and made things run smoothly.”

The top priority for Langer was to always have properly functioning equipment and the right tools to make sure each call was responded to safely and efficiently.

“He was a great chief to get new and working equipment,” Hardy said. “He would always say, if we don’t have quality equipment to protect the public, then what good are we.”

Langer is quick to deflect praise to others, as is his way.

“It takes several people to make this happen,” he said. “We are fortunate to have good relationships with the officers and the village representatives. They understand the wants and needs and have allowed us to get to where we’re at and they really need to be thanked for that.”

Many people within the association have built strong relationships with the community and with each other. Langer is thankful for the people who prioritized the success of the association and the department while he was chief.

“Randy Brickner was my right hand man for 25 years as deputy chief, as was Syd at our south station for the past 19 years, and Dave Deiss, the fire department association secretary, was a huge connecting factor between the boards and the fire chiefs and a huge lead in making the department what it is now,” he said.

During his 39 years of service, many calls have stuck with him, never completely leaving his mind. The large structure fires are some of the fires he remembers the most.

“We have had a few fatal fires since I've been involved, and some of the bigger structure fires are the biggest ones that stick out to me,” he said.

Before 2003, the fire department was owned by the village and there was only one station. Langer was an integral part of the creation of the new south station. The department then became an association and they expanded their response coverage to more surrounding communities that needed the extra hands.

Once the new station opened and began running, the association included eight townships and two villages total. With struggles with recruiting volunteers, this expansion helped the communities with more coverage.

Overall, the many years served were a positive experience for Langer.

“It has been an unbelievable experience, I thoroughly enjoyed doing something I love,” he said.

Langer leaves behind a legacy with the Ellsworth Fire Department.

After Langer officially retired from the chief position in January, Chad Peterson stepped into the spot. Peterson has been a firefighter for 12 years himself, but serving the community as a firefighter is something that has been a part of his life for much longer. Both his grandfather and father served as firefighters as well. “My grandpa was the chief for 29 years and my father has served as a firefighter in Ellsworth and is serving his 50th year,” Peterson said.

The position of fire chief is an elected position and Peterson was nominated.

“I appreciate the opportunity and I’m looking forward to continuing working with everyone,” said Peterson.

Peterson has lived in Ellsworth and the surrounding area for his entire life; currently he lives in Bay City with his family and works in Red Wing, Minn.

The Ellsworth Fire Department is hosting a chicken feed 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 26 and it is open to the community. To keep up to date with the Ellsworth Area Fire Department and Association, follow along on their Facebook page at Ellsworth Fire Dept.

Newly elected Ellsworth Fire Chief Chad Peterson, his son Spencer, his father Larry and his grandpa Pete in the back photo. Photo courtesy of Chad Peterson