Retired St. Paul Local 21 Fire Fighter Turns 100

August 29, 2007 – A 38-year veteran of Saint Paul, MN Local 21 will soon celebrate a very special birthday. On September 1, 2007, Harold Haslach will turn 100. And local 21 members have big plans to honor him and the service he has provided to the citizens of Saint Paul. The party is planned for September 7, at Station 8.

“Brother Haslach has been retired for a long time, but to this day, he remains an active fire fighter retiree,” says Randall E Bibeau, treasurer of Local 21. “We couldn’t pass up this opportunity to let him know how much we have appreciated all of his contributions.”

Haslach began his career as a fire fighter on June 9, 1931, serving on Engine 22. “My father could tell you stories for hours about how he loved being a fire fighter,” says Haslach’s son, Dick. “I think those stories were what inspired me and my son, Alan, to become fire fighters.”

What Haslach remembers most is the Waldorf Paper Company fire of 1949. “My dad had been promoted to drive on Ladder 9 just the year before,” says Dick. “When the call came in, his ladder company was one of the ones to respond. Three fire fighters – Edward Novak, Frank McMahon and Harold Barck – died that day when an interior wall collapsed. When you lose three brothers like that, you don’t forget it,” he recalls

Harold Haslach retired May 21, 1969, at the age of 62, but he has never stopped being active. He continued his side job, roofing houses, until he was 75. In addition, he ran his own lawn ornament business – painting each one free-hand – until he was 98.