Vadnais’ Act of SERVICE Protects Residents at Duplex

Scott Vadnais spends long shifts at Edina Fire Station 1 coordinating staff and doing anything he can to ensure the community is protected.

Commitment to high-quality service runs in the family for Vadnais, whose father retired from the White Bear Lake Fire Department at the age of 77. Vadnais’ son also serves as a firefighter in St. Paul, following in the footsteps of his dad and grandfather.

In his 26-year career with the Edina Fire Department, Vadnais has experienced a wide range of responsibilities, including working as a Firefighter/Paramedic, Lieutenant, and most recently Fire Captain, a position he was promoted to in early 2023. Vadnais has also held various leadership roles in local and state labor unions and is the current president of the Minnesota Professional Firefighters Union.

Despite responding to some of the toughest calls in the city and putting out the proverbial fires that come with working as a Fire Captain, being a career firefighter is “the best job in the world” to Vadnais and he wouldn’t change a thing. “We’re like a family … the team environment and my coworkers make the job everything that it is.”

One of the numerous functions within the Fire Department is to ensure that buildings meet the standards to mitigate risks and potential injury in the event of a fire. In his many years of service, detecting these fire hazards and potentially dangerous situations before they occur has become second nature for Vadnais.

This past fall, Vadnais and his team were on a routine call for a medical emergency at a duplex when he noticed a fire barrier was removed between the two structures, creating a passage from one unit to the other. In its application, a fire barrier is used to restrict the spread of fire and effectively reduce the unwanted effects of potentially destructive fires.

The duplex houses assisted living residents with limited-to-no mobility, some of whom require significant assistance. With the absence of a proper fire barrier and no working sprinkler system in place, a fire at the duplex “would create a significant life hazard,” according to Fire Marshal Dave Ehmiller.

These threats don’t go unnoticed, especially under the watchful eye of a seasoned veteran.

Vadnais reported the hazard to the Fire Inspectors who worked with the Building Inspections Division to resolve the situation at the duplex, ordering the construction of a new barrier. “Scott’s actions embody our culture of service by always looking out for city residents in regard to fire safety,” Ehmiller said in an email on the matter.

“I love serving the residents of Edina … there’s never a day that I’m not excited about coming to work,” Vadnais said.  “People trust us to provide service in their most vulnerable moments,” demonstrating his dedication to representing the City. 

It is everyday heroes like Vadnais who go above and beyond to uphold the values of the City and leave a positive impact on the community.

For information on fire preparedness and safety tips, visit EdinaMN.gov/Fire.