The firemen pictured at left are retiring with a combined total of 80 years of service. They are, left to right, Steve Brown (25 years), Jeff Nowak (20 years) and Kim Meyer (35 years).

The Blue Earth Fire Department has seen a lot of change within the last few months. Three firemen are retiring, seven new recruits are being trained in, and newly appointed fire chief Corey Survis has been tasked with guiding everyone through this transitional period.

“I’ve only been a member of the fire department for nine years, and I didn’t even think about wanting to join until I was in my late 20’s,” Survis explains. “I thought I was too old to join at that point. It was during an extinguisher training at my current job that someone told me about the vacant positions at the fire department, so I filled out an application, and here we are today.”

Fortunately, Survis has a strong base of experience to lean on for help, including fire captain Ryan Vereide. Both of them applied for the position of fire chief after former fire chief Steve Brown announced his retirement, but as Survis was ultimately chosen for the position, Vereide instead retained his position as fire captain.

“I currently have 18 years of experience with the fire department,” Vereide shares. “My inspiration for joining the force was shortly after the massive Kerry Ingredients fire back in 2007. I saw all of that go down, and watched the emergency responders working to fight the blaze, and I thought that looked like fun.”

Vereide became fire captain back in 2022, while Survis officially took over as fire chief on Jan. 1, 2026. Both of them have learned several valuable lessons during their time on the force, especially from the three retiring members: former fire chief Steve Brown, Jeff Nowak, and Kim Meyer, who have a combined total of 80 years of service with the Blue Earth Fire Department. Brown has served the force for 25 years, Nowak served for 20, and Meyer served for 35 years.

“Steve was fire chief for four years before me, and before him was Roger Davis,” Survis recalls. “Both of them were mentors to me, and they really took me under their wing, teaching me everything I needed to know to be a good leader and a good fireman.”

Survis’ job as fire chief entails a fair amount of administrative duties, from filing reports to managing the budget to maintaining the trucks and equipment. However, Survis says that he has some experience in this aspect, both from his time on the force as well as from his previous jobs.

“I have a history working in Human Services as an IT specialist, so even before I became fire chief I was already helping Roger and Steve file reports,” Survis explains. “Human Services was a position of leadership, so I could carry a lot of those skills into my current job. Maintaining a positive culture within the department is my top priority – I need to support the old guard, but also teach the new guys.”

On the other hand, Vereide’s position as fire captain is much more hands-on; taking an active role in training new recruits and leading his fellow firemen while out on assignment.

“I’m usually in charge of a small group of guys, and it’s my job to try and figure out how to solve the problem while we’re on call,” Vereide shares. “I wanted to be in a role where I can still help out and be able to teach the younger guys, and that’s exactly what a fire captain does.”

Learning from one’s colleagues is a crucial part of becoming a member of the Fire Department, and both Survis and Vereide emphasized the importance of being willing to listen and learn from those more experienced than you. Each of them have learned valuable lessons from firefighters who came before them, and they hope to pass that same knowledge and wisdom down to the next generation.

“You need to have 140 hours of training before you can even be eligible to become a firefighter,” Vereide explains. “The fire department is not just a job you pick up for a couple of years, it’s a commitment for life. It takes so long to accumulate the wealth of knowledge you need for the job that you really need to have the dedication to stick with it, and a lot of that comes from listening to your peers and their experiences.”

“Jeff always had a lot of wisdom to share – he was incredibly patient, had answers for just about everything, and was always happy to pass on his knowledge,” Survis recalls. “Steve liked being around other firemen, and was always at the Fire Hall doing something. He really emphasized community outreach and engaging with people, reinforcing our commitment to the safety and well-being of our city. I really look up to him.”

Another aspect that Survis and Vereide both shared was the flexibility required of a fireman; not just responding to an ever-changing situation while out on call, but also being able to adapt to the ways that the nature of the job itself changes over the years.

“We’ve started to see a lot more false alarm calls now that phones have built-in emergency features, which can trigger when a phone gets dropped or thrown onto a hard surface,” Survis explains. “But we don’t mind going out on accidental calls like this, because even if it turns out to be a false alarm, we always fear the alternative.”

“I’m always super appreciative of any employer with firemen on their staff, because I know that they’ll give us the flexibility to go on call in the middle of the day at a moment’s notice,” Vereide comments. “Every time I answer that call, I think “this is what I signed up for,” and I love it. But if I’m ever in a situation where I can’t respond to a call, I know there are always other guys available to handle it.”

The Blue Earth Fire Department responds to around 125 calls a year, ranging from medical emergencies to fires to accidents and many other cases. It’s a demanding and occasionally life-threatening job, but Survis and Vereide are both incredibly proud to be members of the force, and to carry on the wisdom and the legacy of those who have come before them.

“One of the most important pieces of information I was taught by some of the older guys is this: when you’re running towards danger, don’t get caught in tunnel vision – try to slow down and see the big picture,” Survis recalls. “Being able to step back and analyze a situation can be the difference between life or death. It’s a lesson I’ll never forget.”

“The best piece of advice I’ve gotten is to just be open and receptive to everything, and be willing to learn,” Vereide shares. “You have to be able to trust not only the person behind you, but the one beside you or in front of you as well, because at the end of the day, we’re all here to help.”