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Around Waupaca CountyWaupaca News
Home›News›Around Waupaca County›Waupaca fire chief retires

Waupaca fire chief retires

By WaupacaNow
January 6, 2016
3770
18

Olson served 38 years with department

By Robert Cloud


After 38 years with the Waupaca Area Fire District, Chief Jeff Olson is hanging up his helmet.

Supervising a department of 32 volunteer firefighters who cover an area of 142 square miles, Olson has been Waupaca’s fire chief for 13 years.

Olson said he joined the fire department at the urging of his father-in-law, Don Waller. He was 22 years old at the time.
“I’ve always liked to help out my neighbors,” Olson said.

He started working at Waupaca Foundry in 1973 and retired in 2008. In 1994, Olson began working in the foundry’s safety department.

Olson said he has seen significant changes in building construction and firefighter equipment over the past four decades.

“They used to use copper plumbing. Now, they use all plastic and PVC tubing,” Olson said. “That makes it more dangerous when there’s a fire because the smoke is more toxic.”

Olson said the equipment used to control fires and protect firefighters has become more user friendly and more efficient.

“The latest vehicle we purchased was a heavy rescue unit,” Olson said. “It comes with preconnected tools. All we have to do is pull up and we’re ready. In the past, we had to hook up a separate pump.”

Olson said the lighting has also been upgraded with halogens and LED lights.

“We have two vehicles with telescopic lighting that can actually light up a football field,” Olson said.

He said modern air cylinders are composed of carbon rather than steel, which makes them lighter and easier to wear.

“There are alarms on the air packs. If a firefighter lays still for 30 seconds, the alarm goes off so we can find him,” Olson said.

Air masks now have communications equipment, so firefighters are in constant contact with each other and supervisors.

The local fire district serves the city of Waupaca and the towns of Farmington, Dayton, Waupaca and Lind. The four town chairmen and the city’s mayor sit on the committee that oversees the department.

“They’ve been really good to work with,” Olson said about the committee. “We put in $75,000 a year into the budget for purchasing new equipment. When we have enough funds, we can buy a new vehicle without borrowing any money.”

Olson said the fire district has purchased eight new vehicles during his tenure as chief.

“We don’t just go to a dealership and buy a truck off the lot,” Olson said. “When we buy a larger vehicle, like an engine or a tender, we form a committee, go through a very detailed process or research. A lot of time is spent spec’ing the vehicle to make sure it fits the needs of the people we serve.”

Olson, who stepped down at the end of 2015, said the fire district committee will be interviewing potential candidates for the position.

Currently, First Assistant Chief Jerry Deuman Jr. is the department’s interim chief.

Now that he is retired, Olson said he plans to spend more time with his grandchildren and more time at his lake home located about 100 miles north of Waupaca.

TagsJeff OlsonWaupaca Area Fire District
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18 comments

  1. Diane Perron Nelson 6 January, 2016 at 14:22 Reply

    Jeff have a wonderful retirement thank you for your service !

  2. Bonnie Thorne 6 January, 2016 at 14:22 Reply

    Thank you

  3. Mark Maglior 6 January, 2016 at 15:22 Reply

    Thanks Jeff Olson for your years of keeping this community safe. I never did win the raffle however.

  4. Diane Handrich 6 January, 2016 at 15:22 Reply

    Congratulations Mr. Olson 👍👍👍 This is quite an accomplishment, Thank-you for ALL you have done for our community… You should be very proud of yourself…😉

  5. Marge Sixt 6 January, 2016 at 15:22 Reply

    Have a good and healthy retirement and enjoy doing things with family and friends .

  6. Lynne Freeborn-Lempicki 6 January, 2016 at 16:22 Reply

    Great job – well done Jeff! Enjoy retirement!

  7. Karla Hadley 6 January, 2016 at 16:22 Reply

    Congratulations Jeff on your retirement. Enjoy your free time.

  8. Lois Kreeger 6 January, 2016 at 16:22 Reply

    Congrats Jeff. Full retirement is waiting for you! 🙂

  9. Kevin Suprise 6 January, 2016 at 17:22 Reply

    A great service to your community

  10. Mike Karolus 6 January, 2016 at 17:22 Reply

    Congrats chief, Thanks for all your service to the community

  11. Tracy Weed 6 January, 2016 at 18:22 Reply

    Congrats Jeff!

  12. Ted Erdmann 6 January, 2016 at 18:22 Reply

    Good luck on your retirement Jeff!!👍👍👍

  13. Nick Myers 6 January, 2016 at 19:22 Reply

    Congratulations Jeff! Wishing you a happy retirement!

  14. Janet Badgley-Moran 6 January, 2016 at 19:22 Reply

    Have a wonderful retirement!!

  15. Tyler Peterson 6 January, 2016 at 21:22 Reply

    Hey Jeff thanks for all the years of dedicated work

  16. Dawn Telfer 7 January, 2016 at 07:22 Reply

    Thank you for your service .

  17. Zac Ladubec 7 January, 2016 at 12:22 Reply

    Congrats!! Thank you for your service

  18. Jackie Hath 7 January, 2016 at 19:22 Reply

    Congratulations! May you enjoy your retirement.

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