ESTEVAN — Dean Nagel was not only one of the longest-serving members of the Estevan Fire Rescue Service, but he always played an important role in its responses.
Nagel died suddenly on Sept. 14 at the age of 69. He had been a member of the fire department for 44 years. Among the current members of the fire department, only Victor Frank has been serving longer; he joined shortly before Nagel.
Fire Chief Rick Davies noted that Nagel was a big part of the department ever since Davies joined the fire service more than 20 years ago. And Davies’ father Clint was part of the department alongside Nagel.
Chief Davies said that for as long as he could recall, Nagel was an important piece of the department as a driver and pump operator.
“We were very dependent on him to do those kinds of tasks. Especially the last few years. He was considered our lead driver-operator, so we were very dependent on him … driving trucks, getting everyone to the scene, pumping the water. He was also one of the main operators of the ladder truck.”
Davies marvelled at Nagel’s commitment to the department. For a lot of members, it gets harder to remain part of the department as they get older.
“It’s a physical job,” said Davies. “But Dean, even right up to his passing, [he was there at] one in the morning, three in the morning, five in the morning, middle of the day. He was one of the first guys here when he was available.”
Nagel was a mentor for the younger firefighters. He was a quieter person, but when someone showed an interest in what he did with pump operating, he would do what he could to help them learn.
The fire department honoured Nagel the best way they could. The day of the funeral, everyone from the department was in attendance. Then they gave him what Davies described as “one last ride”, in which they drove through town in the fire truck, with lights and sirens on, from the Royal Canadian Legion’s Estevan branch where the funeral took place to the city cemetery.
The fire department has also discussed other ways to honour him, but a decision hasn’t been made.
“He’s going to be dearly missed around here, and it’s a big hole to fill when it comes to what he did here,” said Davies.
