This firefighter combines skill and determination

SLEEPY EYE — The American Legion Department of Minnesota Outstanding Firefighter for 2025 is an assistant fire marshal for the Sleepy Eye Fire Department who has loads of passion for the job.

Shaun Heiderscheidt was 35 when he joined the department in May 2013. Older than most rookies, he jumped right in with a thirst for knowledge and quickness to boot. It was hard to beat him to take his favorite seat on the fire truck, according to his nomination papers.

“Shaun’s vast knowledge because of schooling and his ability to  work with others toward a common goal have made these intense situations calmer and easier to work,” wrote Sleepy Eye 1st Assistant Chief Scott Krzmarzick.

He said Heiderscheidt has been involved in countless fires, but he also is a great teacher and leader for young recruits. He is now the assistant fire marshal.

The nomination papers told about a fire west of Sleepy Eye. A farmhouse had a fire in the attic, with children possibly in an upstairs bedroom. Heiderscheidt was part of the first truck to arrive and his team made entry, found the kids and got them out. Other firefighters with building-saving knowledge arrived, and they tried to attack the fire from within. However, high winds weren’t helping, and the fire crawled through stud cavities until it surrounded the firefighters.

They shifted to an exterior attack. Heiderscheidt got the ladder in place, and the crew went on top. The roof “had turned to Jell-O” and collapsed a few minutes after they got off. Not one to give up on the structure, Heiderscheidt decided to remove the bottom row of siding and spray water up each stud cavity.

“It was hard work, but it paid off,” Krzmarzick wrote. “We were able to extinguish the flames and save countless photo albums, keepsakes and family memories for these people. Not all important saves are for a life.”

Heiderscheidt volunteers by speaking to businesses and schools and doing the community education on fire prevention. He has a wife and two children.

He will be at the Department Convention to accept his award. He was nominated by Sleepy Eye Post 7 Commander Donald Gedrose and Adjutant Betty Jass.