Firefighter farmer

Laveau serves for nearly four decades

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WRENSHALL, Minn. — It is not uncommon to see farm equipment parked outside the Wrenshall fire hall when fire chief Peter Laveau gets a call while in the field.

“I’ve made many trips to the fire hall with the tractor,” Laveau said. “I give the guys grief because one time I was the first person there and I was in a tractor.”

Laveau owns a dairy farm a little more than a mile from the fire hall. He milks 100 cows in an L-shaped tiestall barn. Between rented and owned land, Laveau farms 650 acres. Some of the land is just a half mile from the hall. This explains why a plow, discbine and chopper have all been parked outside the fire hall.

For 38 years, Laveau has had strong commitments to his farm and the fire department where he has been chief for six years. Through this, Laveau said having a support system is huge.

“You have to have a family that supports you,” Laveau said. “There was more than once when the (pager went) off in the middle of chores or milking and they know I’m going. They just have to step up and get it done.”

His wife, Kim, daughter, Samantha, a grandchild and a great-nephew have helped to operate the farm and get him to the hall when a call came in.

Whether he uses traditional transportation or farm equipment depends on his location in the field.

“I keep my head on straight,” Laveau said. “I have my faith and I have good people around me. That is the main thing.”

Often, when a late-night call is made, Laveau finds himself working through the night finishing up details from a call at the station before heading home. This includes fueling trucks, washing hoses, replacing parts, cleaning all the equipment used, and ensuring everything is full and ready for the next call. As chief, he also files paperwork and debriefs his team.

“There have been lots of tough calls where I’m out all night and get home just in time to start milking,” Laveau said. “And then some days I work all day. So, you have to be dedicated and have to like it.”

Just as his transportation varies, so do fire calls. As chief, Laveau is in charge of many tasks, like gathering information, deciding on a plan, getting crews in place and assigning tasks to officers.

Before he became an officer, Laveau was one of the main firefighters. He was among the first to go into the building during an emergency. On occasion, he will still enter buildings. If they are out on a mutual aid call, he gears up to go inside every time, Laveau said.

After serving in the department for a couple of years Laveau was determined to become an officer after an experience in a mutual aid call. The fire was not well assessed and the house was lost.

Following this experience Laveau spoke with his chief about becoming an officer and was made a lieutenant. Over the years he worked up the ranks from captain to second assistant and then to first assistant, where he stayed for many years before being nominated for chief.

“I’ve heard lots of people say, ‘When Peter gets on scene things are going to get done,’” Laveau said. “That’s just the way I’ve always been. I think it is part instinct, part guidance. The Lord helps me and I just know what to do.”

The idea of applying to be a firefighter came to Laveau when he was dating his wife. Her father was in the department and Laveau always saw him driving past when there was a call. At the age of 18, he applied and was accepted.

For the first six months, Laveau was on probation. He also had to complete two courses — firefighter one and two — which added up to about 120 hours of training within his first year on the department.

The Wrenshall fire department has 20 members now. When Laveau first started there were 32 men and more who wanted to join but could not because there was no room. In hopes of expanding the team, the department will occasionally hold recruitment days.

“A lot of these guys want to try and tell me they are too busy,” Laveau said. “There isn’t anyone busier than me and I find time.”

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