New Sartell Fire Chief Has Firefighting ‘In His Blood’

(KNSI) – Sartell’s first full-time fire chief is on the job after being hired in late March.

Peter Kedrowski started in his new role with the Fire Department on April 12th.

Chief Kedrowski has been a firefighter for 24 years with the Rice and St. Cloud Fire Departments.

He started with Rice when he was 18 and said firefighting was in his blood.

“My dad was a volunteer firefighter. The earliest back, I have a picture, I was about five years old, sitting in my little pedal fire truck, looking back at that, I already wanted to be a firefighter at five.”

His dad was a volunteer with the Rice fire department, and that’s where Kedrowski grew up.

One of the department’s challenges is a growing population over the next 15 years resulting in increased calls and more strain.

Kedrowski says he’s looking forward to crunching the data to ensure the city has enough firefighters and equipment to keep Sartell safe.

He told KNSI News what he loved about being a firefighter.

“Really the opportunity to, to help the citizens, you know, there a lot of times, they’re having, maybe the worst day of their life and, and we have an opportunity to step in and provide some comfort during those times. It’s the unique and ever-changing nature of the job I think I really like.”

He says one minute you’re checking the trucks, and the next minute, you’re heading to a structure fire or a river rescue.

Kedrowski also cited the camaraderie within a group stating a fire department is like a second family.

He’s looking forward to working with the city to keep the community safe.

The Sartell Fire Department has a full-time cheif, full-time fire marshal, and 29 paid-on-call firefighters.

Kedrowski is the city’s first full-time firefighter in the department’s 101-year history.

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