Bio: Radue, Scott – Loyal Fire Dept. Chief (2021)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Radue, Geier, Esselman, Martin, Bauer

Source: Tribune/Record/Gleaner (Abbotsford, WI) 21 Apr 2021

As soon as Scott Radue was old enough, he joined his local volunteer fire department. Everywhere he has lived since then, he’s made it a point to be one of the people who are willing to run at any hour to protect local lives and property.

After some 25 years as a fireman, Radue at the beginning of 2021 took over as chief of the Loyal Fire Department. He had been assistant chief since 2012, and now succeeds Jon Bauer, who decided to step aside due to work and time commitments. Radue is now the leader of a roster of about 33 local women and men who are responsible for protecting property in the city of Loyal and towns of Loyal and Beaver, as well as providing neighboring departments with mutual assistance.

Radue got his start with the Spencer Fire Department, “right outta high school,” he recalls. His father, Wayne Radue, was a longtime fireman in Spencer, and it was the natural thing for Scott to join, as well.

“I’ve kind of had that instilled in me,” he said. It’s good for the community.”

Radue served in Spencer for about three years, and when he moved to the Owen area in 1999, he joined the Owen-Withee/Curtiss Department. That lasted for seven years until he moved to Loyal, and he joined the volunteer department here in 2007.

Bauer was Loyal’s chief since 2009, but he and Radue basically swapped positions at the beginning of 2021. Bauer was having difficulty making fire meetings due to his job, and decided to let someone else take the reins. Radue was voted in as chief in December, and started in the new role in January.

The rest of the fire department officer team is the same as in past years, with Dave Esselman as first captain, Mike Meyer as second captain, Dave Geier as first lieutenant, and Phillip Martin as second lieutenant.

Radue takes over a department that is only a few firemen short of a full roster of 35. It has added about seven new recruits in the past six months, and is getting adequate turn-out on most calls. Even so, Radue said, anyone in Loyal interested in joining should still pursue it.

“We can always take people. We don’t want to turn them away,” he said.

What is needed, Radue said, is an upgrade of the department’s turn-out gear, or the jackets, boots, helmets, etc., the firemen need at every call. It’s expensive, and the department has been falling behind in keeping the personnel outfitted in gear that is not aging.

“We’re trying to get guys up to snuff on turn-out gear. It’s quite old,” he said. “To outfit a guy, you’re talking two grand.”

The department bought six sets of gear last year and is planning to buy five more this year. Meanwhile, it’s also planning to buy 10 new air packs, which run about $7,000 each.

Radue said the department wants to buy the new packs at the same time, so firemen aren’t having trouble going from some old units to some new ones.

“Uniformity is a big thing,” he said.

Radue said the fire department’s overseeing board will be asked for permission for a loan to buy the new gear. All of the other department’s debt has been retired.

Radue said the department runs on a budget of about $50,000 a year. That’s quite low when compared to others in the area, he said, and that’s partly because there is no current debt. In addition to the revenue it receives from calls and the contributions from the three municipalities it serves, the department relies on fundraisers to add/replace equipment. The Corn Festival beer stand is the group’s main annual fundraiser, and it also holds a Spring Fest (which took place on April 17 this year).

The department is well set for now on trucks and other large equipment. It’s practice has been to buy used trucks to keep costs down. The exception is for the main pumper truck, and the department is looking ahead to a possible purchase of a new one in 10 years.

Overall, Radue said he takes over a department that has been in good hands with Bauer as chief.

“I’m taking over for a good guy,” he said. “He brought this department a long way.”