He lost sleep - and was glad to do it

Merle Gallant may be able to sleep easier now.

• Photos

But an occasional sleepless night was something the Brainerd man embraced - something that came with the territory as battalion chief with the Brainerd Fire Department.

Gallant, 56, retires today from the Brainerd Fire Department - not by choice, but by circumstance.

In May 2005, Gallant retired as a shop foreman at BNSF Railway. A lifetime resident of Brainerd, he represented the third generation of his family to work in the Brainerd railroad shop. As a requirement of his retirement, Gallant had to quit any other existing employment or work within 18 months.

His work as a firefighter became a casualty of his railroad retirement.

"I'd still stay on," Gallant said. "I still enjoy it. More than anything I'll miss being in the group. You're part of a team."

Brainerd Fire Department Battalion Chief Merle Gallant will retire after a long career with the department. Brainerd Dispatch/Nels Norquist » Purchase reprints of this photo.

Working as a firefighter is like no other job, Gallant said. "It's different than a regular job. You're way more of a team, depending on each other. It's a mutual trust thing."

At 30, Gallant joined the fire department. Dave Bahma, a friend of Gallant's and a former Brainerd firefighter who went on to work with the state fire marshal's office, encouraged Gallant to apply.

Gallant did so, and he's never regretted the decision.

Then, training consisted mostly of mentoring with a seasoned firefighter and learning on the job.

"There wasn't much formal training like there is now," Gallant said.

Today, firefighters spend time every week training. Some training is required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Other training provides instruction on specialized techniques, such as ice-water rescue, rope rescue or vehicle extrication.

And there's more accountability.

As a battalion chief, Gallant closely controls the scene. He keeps track of the firefighters - who's in a building and who's out, how many times a firefighter has been inside, how many air bottles are available.

"We're a very aggressive firefighting team, but at the same time we're cautious," Gallant said. "We don't go charging in without a plan."

As training has changed over the years, so has the nature of calls. In his early days as a firefighter, Gallant recalls responding to many more fires. Today, the majority of the runs for firefighters are rescue calls.

Fire prevention efforts and education have played a key role in reducing the number of fires, Gallant said.

Regardless of the nature of the work, the feeling of accomplishment remains a reward for firefighters, Gallant said.

"Every house we save, every time we pull someone out of a car, every time we pull someone out of the water, they're all feelings of accomplishment - and being able to do that without hurting or killing any of our people," Gallant said.

Gallant is proud of the Brainerd Fire Department - its firefighters and its service. His advice to young firefighters today: Be a part of the solution, don't become a part of the problem.

"We're called to solve a problem," he said. "And if we get in a position that one of us is trapped, through the floor or tangled up in wires, then we're part of the problem - and likewise with rescues. Everything has to be done safely so everyone goes home."

Gallant is a humble man by nature. He doesn't brag of good saves - the countless times when firefighters were able to knock down the flames in a house fire or pull a victim from a wrecked vehicle.

Instead, when asked about memorable moments, he talks about times when he wished there was more he could have done.

One such moment came early in his career. It was more of an unforgettable moment.

He points to a fire helmet on the wall in the training room. The helmet reads, "Bear, 1980-1982."

Don Lamont, known as Bear, joined the fire department about the same time as Gallant. One day in 1982, Lamont and a co-worker, both plumbers by trade, were buried under several feet of dirt in a cave-in while excavating for a utility hookup on May Street.

Gallant still has a hard time talking about the call. It's not easy for a firefighter to arrive on a scene and realize a fellow firefighter's in harm's way.

While firefighters worked to free the men, Lamont and his co-worker, Tim Thompson, kept talking to each other for a time.

Thompson was freed and rescuers continued to try to reach Lamont.

"When we got down to Bear, he was gone already," Gallant said.

Gallant talks about the call as if it occurred yesterday. "The look on the other guy's face when he came out of that hole ..." And Gallant can't complete the sentence.

In retirement, Gallant plans to remain in Brainerd. He and his wife, Mickey, don't plan to travel extensively but they do plan to enjoy extended weekend trips. He'll continue to tinker with his hobby of building and restoring cars and street rods.

He also may spend more time on his motorcycle. He always felt a pang of guilt riding his bike because there wasn't room for his fire equipment gear bag and radio.

Gallant's boots will be difficult to replace, Fire Chief Fred Underhill said.

"Merle's going to be missed. He's a good asset to the department, both personally and professionally."

Underhill said Gallant is the type of guy everyone enjoyed having around the fire hall because of his good humor. Underhill said he also appreciated Gallant's leadership on a fire scene because of his common-sense approach.

For Gallant, retirement also will mean life with fewer interruptions. Without fail, the fire pager typically goes off in the middle of a holiday dinner, a child's birthday party, a movie date with Mickey or at 2 a.m. when it's 20 below.

He said he won't miss those interruptions but will miss the challenge and the adventure.

"I have no regrets," Gallant said. "I'm glad I got involved. We're really good at getting the job done. It's a big commitment, but you make a lot of friends.

"But I gotta go."

KATHI NAGORSKI can be reached at kathi.nagorski@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5859.