The Superior Express -

Kenny Lynch is retiring from the Mankato Volunteer Fire Department after 53 years of service. "I thought it would be safer to retire because of my balance," Lynch said. "Healthwise though, I could still keep going."

Lynch started fighting fires with the Mankato Volunteer Fire Department at the age of 24. He has only been with the MVFD. When Lynch lived in Wakefield, he lived right across from the fire department there. When he heard the fire whistle, he ran out to watch the fire truck leave. "I enjoyed it," Lynch said. "It was kind of in my blood."

"When I was in high school, I thought about becoming a fireman in a big city," Lynch said. "We lived close to Manhattan and I was able to see the fire trucks. I guess that's what made the blood stir."

"I suppose my favorite part was back when I was young and worked with the hose," Lynch said. Lynch confirmed that the fire hoses are as hard to handle as you see on TV. An inch and a half hose takes two guys to handle it, while a two and a half inch hose takes three to four people to man it. "Burr Oak called for assistance one time," Lynch said. "I went back to the truck and found one of the hoses broken. I had to go around another way to turn the truck off."

There was one time Lynch was bringing the big fire truck back from Hays where it had been worked on. When he got to Smith Center, one of the back tires blew. "It made me nervous," Lynch said. "But Sam Becker said to baby it in. I traveled at 45 mph. It was a long ride, but I made it back."

Lynch remembers fighting two house fires in temperatures below zero degrees. "The worst fire I remember is a fatality fire that happened around Christmas time. The victims were an elderly couple. They had electric candles in the windows and one of them caught the curtains on fire," Lynch said. "The lady tried to put it out, and then went to the back of the house. The fire wasn't completely out though."

Lynch shared the two worst wrecks he was called out to assist with. One of them was when a woman drove under a semi. The other happened two miles west of Mankato. "The guy was drunk," Lynch said. "He hit a semi head on. The engine of his vehicle ended up in the back seat. The accident killed the youth and the guy. When the firemen opened the door of the car, a wedding dress fell out."

The funniest incident Lynch encountered was when a guy got trapped under a toolbox in Burr Oak.

"When I started, we didn't have turnout gear," Lynch remembers. The fatality fire that occurred around Christmas time he fought wearing coveralls. "There was ice," Lynch said. "I got cold so I got in the truck to warm up. That was a mistake because all of the ice melted and soaked through my coveralls."

"The good part was when we got good turnout gear," Lynch said. In 1979, the turnout gear consisted of boots that went to the knees, a coat that went down to the knees, and only two air packs which were pure oxygen. The turnout gear now weighs approximately 30 pounds, add to that the air tank that weighs more than 20 pounds.

Lynch never got injured on the job or lost a fellow firefighter. He never had to work a fire or wreck of a family.

Lynch has been married for 52 years. He thinks his wife worried a little when he was out on calls. When asked how his wife felt about him retiring, Lynch responded, "She didn't say much about me retiring. During the summer though, she said it was time for me to retire because the adrenaline was gone."

So, what is he going to do after retirement? "I'll probably piddle around the house and go to coffee twice a day," Lynch said. "When I hear the fire whistle, I'll probably start for the door." Lynch plans on staying active in the community and believes the fire department will keep him in the loop. His last day is Dec. 31.

"I've served on the fire department for 22 years," Brian Shulda said. "And throughout my tenure, Kenny has been one of the most dependable firemen to serve. He's never hesitated to respond to a call no matter the time of day. He's also been my go-to guy when we needed a truck taken somewhere for repair or service work. His absence will definitely be noticed with MVFD. We wish him the best."