Staff photo by Fritz Busch Sleepy Eye Assistant Fire Marshall Shaun Heiderscheidt holds the Minnesota American Legion 2025 Firefighter of the Year Award he recently received. The award cites him for outstanding contributions in fire fighting and fire prevention.

SLEEPY EYE — Sleepy Eye Fire Department Assistant Fire Marshall Shaun Heiderscheidt was surprised when he was recently named the 2025 Firefighter of the Year by the Minnesota American Legion.

“It’s a helluva surprise,” said Heiderscheidt who lived outside the fire department’s five-minute response time limit until he moved into Sleepy Eye with his wife in 2013.

“I learned about a fire department opening and applied for it,” he said.

Heiderscheidt said he likes everything about being a firefighter.

“I like the excitement of a fire call. I like being able to teach the community about fire awareness. We do a lot of outreach with kids and adults,” he said.

Heiderscheidt was nominated for the award by Benjamin S. Remelle Post 7 American Legion Club in Sleepy Eye.

“I got an application in the mail from the American Legion. I filled out the application which was a rough draft of what I do and have done as a fireman,” he said.

Heiderscheidt said a grain bin rescue of a farmer near Sleepy Eye three years ago stands out in his memory as a fireman.

“We used our grain bin rescue equipment, metal sheets that slid together around him and an auger attached to a drill and a lot of shoveling. We had the fire department, police, emergency medical services and a Minnesota state trooper helping. Everybody that was there was moving corn and helping out. It was great being able to save him,” he said.

“I’ve even been able to save a cat from a fire uptown. There was a fire in the basement. An apartment upstairs was full of smoke. There were a couple cats in it. A couple guys and I went up there and got the cats out after the residents got out and told us they had cats inside,” said Heiderscheidt.

He said every fire call can be a challenge.

“Every call is so dynamic in it’s own way. You have to figure it out in the snap of a finger. We usually make a plan on the way to the call. Saving lives and property make you feel good. It’s what we are supposed to do — mitigate things when people are having a horrible day. I also enjoy the brotherhood aspect of being a firefighter,” he said.

Heiderscheidt said a grain bin and farm safety program will be held at 5 p.m., Wednesday, July 23 at the Sleepy Eye Hockey Arena. The event includes a free meal and is hosted by the Sleepy Eye and Gibbon Fire Departments and Safety and Security Consultation Specialists, LLC of Minnesota Lake.