ABOVE: Roger Carlson stands with the large black and red Fairmont Fire Department’s Fire and Rescue truck. It is much different from those Carlson started out with in 1975, 50 years ago.

FAIRMONT – For 50 years, Roger Carlson has served Fairmont in several different roles with the fire department.

Though he started in 1975, he initially wanted to start two years earlier. He was 19 and at the time you had to be 21 or over. When he got to that age, Carlson jumped at the chance.

What sticks out in his mind about that period was the equipment and how they fought fires.

“The trucks were not nearly as good as they are now,” he said. “Our equipment was way different. We didn’t have the personal protective equipment we have now. We had a plastic helmet with no liner. We didn’t have bunker pants. We had pull-up boots that would cover most of your legs. Red rubber coat, orange rubber gloves.”

They also fought fires differently at that time. They used the “surround and drown” technique, spraying water on the fire from the outside.

“We didn’t have much for air packs, so we couldn’t do interior attacks very well,” Carlson said. “We still try to knock them down a little bit from the outside if need be, but then we do the interior attack. We can go in much easier than we used to.”

Seven years in, Carlson began doing firefighter training. With over 40 years of training, he said he has been able to see the fulfilling extent of his efforts.

“Some of them are saying, ‘Yeah, you trained my dad,’ Carlson said. “I’ve trained so long it’s getting to the second generation of people I’ve trained, or third.”

Carlson also had a stint as Fairmont’s Fire Chief, from 1987 to 1994. In that capacity, he said there was a greater responsibility placed on his shoulders.

“If something does go wrong, you’re going to feel somewhat responsible for it,” Carlson said. “You want to make sure you’re making good decisions. It was trying to encourage people to do what they needed to do. Treat them as you would want them to treat you, be fair.”

Throughout his time, Carlson said he never put much thought into how long he’d want to work in firefighting.

“It’s been something I like doing so much,” he said. “I haven’t given a thought to an end goal.”

It helps that Carlson has had a great group of co-workers to work through whatever came their way.

“It’s like a brotherhood up here,” he said. “Like another family. If something comes up, we’re there for each other. Whether it’s on the fire scene, personal lives, or whatever, we’re there.”

While he doesn’t do much of the firefighting side anymore, Carlson stays plenty busy in his current Treasurer role, driving the trucks from time to time, and consistently training future firefighters across Minnesota.

After the year and change Carlson said he has left, it’s the job and the people in it he said he will miss the most when he’s done.

“I’ll miss the excitement of the calls,” Carlson said. “I’ll miss being with the crew as we all seem to get along pretty well. We have a lot of laughs.”

In retirement, Carlson said he’ll look to stay busy. He said his hobbies include gardening, golfing and traveling.