Annandale’s new fire chief didn’t have much down time to ease into his position during the first few weeks of the year.
Dale Machovsky Jr. had responded to 11 calls for service in the first 13 days of the month since taking over for outgoing Chief Brian Haag, including a sizable detached garage fire at the Bruce Stuhr property on County Road 6 near Cedar Lake on Tuesday, Jan. 12.
In that incident, an accidental blaze that may have started with a woodburning stove engulfed the three-bay wide garage by the time more than two dozen firefighters from Annandale and Maple Lake were able to respond around 10:15 a.m.
With the temperature at about zero degrees, firefighters had to keep idle hoses cracked open slightly so the water within wouldn’t freeze, and had to rotate frozen gear and personnel to keep a steady attack on the flames.
A pickup truck, bobcat, propane tanks and various tools, files and more stored in the garage were destroyed. Firefighters had to stay outside the structure, for the most part, due to the failing roof and concerns about some of the explosive material inside. At least some of the propane tanks did rupture during the blaze.
All units were clear of the scene by about 1:20 p.m., though at least one more call was made to the scene in the evening to deal with a lingering hot spot.
A lifetime at the fire hall
Machovsky is a nine-year veteran of the department, having joined just a few months after his graduation from high school. But his connection to the department goes back even further than that.
His father, also named Dale, retired from the fire department in 2012 after more than 20 years of service, during which time the younger Machovsky made himself familiar with the fire hall.
"I grew up coming to the station and kind of hanging out with the guys – well, playing out in the trucks, more or less, and causing trouble," said Machovsky. "It was always fun. My brother and I got involved with some of the trainings when we were kids to help out, and just grew up with being around fire trucks."
The decision to join the department when he was old enough was a natural one, and Machovsky said the opportunity to take on an officer’s role was "a bucket list goal."
City council members felt he was well qualified for the position, and a plaque at the fire hall recognizing the department’s "Firefighter of the Year" seemed to agree. Machovsky has earned the award eight times in his nine years on the department.
Chief transition
After the city council appointed Machovsky to the chief’s position in June, he spent the last half of 2015 preparing to step in for Haag, who had been the fire chief since 2004 and who also served an earlier stint as chief back when the fire department voted on its officers from 1996 to 2000.
Haag, who has 23 years of experience overall, voluntarily stepped down from the post at the turn of the year in order to help aid the transition to a new chief.
"I’ve been doing it a long time," he said. "I know I’m at the tail end of my career, looking to retire soon, so my thought process was to step down before I retire so that I could lend some assistance to whoever the new person was and finish out my term just helping where I can so when I pull the plug completely, by then everything would be rolling and I wouldn’t have to worry about it."
When asked about his goals as chief, Machovsky said that aside from safety for the firefighters he wants to equal the performance of Haag as a chief.
"He left some big shoes to fill and it’s going to take me a while to be as good," he said. "I want to be better, but I know that ain’t going to happen."
Haag will continue to serve as a firefighter and as an administrative assistant. He will help with report preparation, payroll and other annual duties until Machovsky has eased into those routine tasks.
"The reason we did that is he has enough on his plate right now and for me, I’ve been doing it so long that it’s old hat. It takes minutes for me," said Haag. "So the goal is for me to take that off his plate for now, and at some point we’ll just transition to where he’s doing it all."
Reversing roles
Machovsky remembers a fire shortly after he joined the department when he was sent to fetch supplies of some sort from a gas station and decided to return with a cup of coffee for Haag.
"They knew how to keep me happy," said Haag with a laugh.
One might expect that history, along with the recent six-month interim period and Haag’s ongoing administrative assistance, could make things uncomfortable for Machovsky in giving direction to his former chief, but Haag made it clear that Machovsky is in charge now.
"On the fire ground I plan to do whatever he tells me to do, just like anyone else would," he said. "I don’t expect him to think of me any different than I’m going to think of him. He’s the chief. I’m the firefighter. That’s our relationship now. This is his chance to get back at me."
For his part, Machovsky said he must transition from a firefighter with a first-in mentality to a big picture coordinator.
"I can’t go in. I was always in and trying to get the work done before," he said. "Now you have to delegate and send people in to do what you used to do. It’s a big change for me because I was always inside and got my hands dirty, and now I’ve got to hold myself back from wanting to go inside and help out where I can."
Challenge of the job
Haag said that emphasis on a chief directing the fire-scene work rather than doing it himself is one reason the firefighting crew deserves the credit rather than the guy with the white helmet and radio.
"Ninety percent of the work is done by everyone but the chief," he said.
The chief still plays a vital role, however, and Haag said he found satisfaction in both the routine and the more action-oriented moments of the job.
"The thing I liked about being chief was the challenge of the job, whether it was the day-to-day functions in the station, the personnel issues or the running of a fire scene – be it a small fire scene or Marketplace, something huge. Those were challenges that I enjoyed doing," he said. "Most of the firefighters are fairly well trained, so they kind of anticipate what needs to be done. But as the chief you’re the one making those decisions. You’re deciding not just the goals – obviously put the fire out – but the tactics you’re going to use to do it. Those are the decisions the chief has to make. Those are the things that are going to fall on Dale now."
First fire
Machovsky, who works for his assistant chief Dave Hartley at Lake Country Cabinets and Trim when not at the fire hall, had his first chance to direct a real fire scene at last week’s incident. During his six-month interim period he attended leadership courses and managed training fires, but he appreciated the assistance rendered by Maple Lake Fire Chief Todd Borell last week.
"I’ve got a lot of learning to do, but the guys were patient with me," said Machovsky. "It was nice to have some help from our neighboring chief. He helped me out quite a bit because a few of my officers weren’t there."
Haag was out of town and did not make it to the scene.
"I would have loved to have him there to kind of lean on, but that’s why I used Todd because he’s been the chief over in Maple Lake for many years now," said Machovsky. "I leaned on some of these older guys like Scott Picken. He’s a great firefighter. He knows everything. He’s been the chief once. I leaned on him quite a bit for guidance and I’ll do the same with Brian."
Haag said he’ll offer any support needed, but that Machovsky is a capable leader in his own right.
"My biggest deal is to get out of his way. He’ll be fine," said Haag. "I’m just going to get out of his way and let him do what he’s got to do."
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