31-03-2025
Muscatine Assistant Fire Chief retires April 1
Muscatine Assistant Fire Chief Mike Hartman made a deliberate decision to retire from active duty with the Muscatine Fire Department on April 1, 2025. It was part of a plan to get the last laugh on his way out the door and start his next adventure with a smile.
'I told people that by retiring on April Fool's Day, I can come back a few days later and say, 'Just kidding, I want my job back',' Hartman said. 'Probably won't be as funny since everyone knows that I was thinking of doing it.'
The department is hosting a retirement celebration on Tuesday, April 1 from 12 – 2 p.m. in the firefighters' dayroom upstairs in the Public Safety Building, 312 E, Fifth Street in Muscatine.
Hartman has worked for the Muscatine Fire Department for over 30 years and is looking forward to his next phase as the Camp Director of Camp Loud Thunder, the Scout Camp for the Illowa Council.
'One of the proudest moments of my life is when I got the call that I was being hired as a Muscatine firefighter,' Hartman said. He started with the Muscatine Fire Department on November 21, 1994 and was promoted to Fire Lieutenant on December 7, 1999, and then to Fire Captain on March 7, 2005. The Assistant Fire Chief position was created during a department reorganization, and he assumed that role on January 7, 2013. Shift commanders performed the duties of assistant chief before then, but the department realized that the position needed a dedicated 40-hour-per-week staff member instead of relying on overworked shift commanders.
'I was fortunate enough to see Mike's talent early on and promoted him to Assistant Fire Chief in 2013,' said Fire Chief Jerry Ewers. 'Mike has been our city's Fire Marshal for over 12 years, keeping our community safe.'
'During my career I would always ask myself how can I have a bigger impact as a fire professional,' Hartman said. 'I never lost sight of where I came from with every promotion I received.'
He's a firm believer in preventing fires, not just fighting them. 'The fire we prevent is the most effective way to protect ourselves and the citizens from harm,' he said. His inspiration came from Mike Kruse, the only Muscatine firefighter to die in the line of duty. 'I worked with Mike and he was also a big proponent of fire prevention,' Hartman said. 'One of the reasons we put such an emphasis on firefighter training and fire prevention education is to honor him.'
Hartman carried a picture of Kruse when he participated in the inaugural stair climb at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., after the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, as well as a picture of Michael Fiore, a New York firefighter from Rescue 5 who lost his life responding to the terrorist attack on Sept. 11. Hartman visited Rescue 5 while attending the first class of the National Fire Academy after Sept. 11. 'It was amazing to visit and stay at Rescue 5, to see the pictures of those who lost their lives, and the history of the station,' Hartman said.
Hartman helped develop the fire investigation program and the training of the fire investigation team, which Hartman says is probably the best investigation team in the state. He also worked to develop the HAZMAT team in Muscatine in November 1996 after then Fire Chief Steve Dalbey gave his approval to create the team and develop the training program. The Muscatine HAZMAT team is now designated as a Regional HAZMAT team that provides services to Muscatine, Louisa, Henry, Washington and Keokuk counties.
'We worked to develop and train in the areas of hazardous material handling, confined space rescue, high angle rope rescue, trench rescue, and clandestine lab clean up,' Hartman said.
'His earlier accomplishments are really tied back to creating our first HazMat team, which now is a designated HazMat team for Iowa covering five counties in Southeast Iowa,' Ewers said. 'This is really something to be proud of, along with furthering and elevating our fire investigation program for the department. I wish Mike well in his retirement and want to thank him for his service to our department and our community.'
Hartman has a long history of working with the Boy Scouts of America and local Scouts and is looking forward to his new position as Camp Director at Camp Loud Thunder.
'I am truly excited to provide the leadership and mentoring to current scouts similar to what I received since I was a youth,' he said. 'There is no better organization for strong character development in today's youth than the Scouts. I look forward to spending time with these youth and my staff, and to emphasize the principles of scouting.'
Hartman, an Eagle Scout, watched with pride as his youngest daughter entered the inaugural class of female Eagle Scouts.
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