RESPONSE AND S RECOVERY
By ANNIE GRANLUND annie.granlund@apgsomn.com
Fire Chief Mike Johnson set to retire after decades of emergency service
Page 4 | Profiles 2021
ome people are just simply born to serve, and Mike Johnson fits exactly that definition. After 37 years of fighting fires, saving lives, responding to tragedies, and serving his community, Johnson is finally ready to slow things down. Though he embodies the resilience and dedication needed for the profession of a firefighter, come May 28, Johnson will be hanging up his leatherhead for good when he retires. “I’ve been lucky and blessed,” Johnson said. “I am truly thankful that I have been able to work in a job that I thoroughly enjoyed. I never had to
TOP: Family is one of the biggest parts of the fire service culture, according to Mike Johnson (second from the right). During his 20-year tenure as the Owatonna fire chief, Johnson said he will miss the camaraderie among the firefighters and will undoubtedly worry about them every time he hears a siren. (Photo courtesy of Mike Johnson)
