Fire chief pays tribute to fallen assistant chief

A somber Rhinelander Fire Chief Brian Tonnancour took to the podium during the public comment portion of Monday evening’s common council meeting to speak directly to the community about how the department is coping following the sudden loss of assistant chief Dan Bauer.

“As many of you know, on Saturday, Nov. 2, Rhinelander Fire and the community was brought to our knees as we learned of the passing of Assistant Fire Chief Dan Bauer,” he said. “It all seemed like a horrible dream that we all wanted to wake up from, but just can’t. This is something that every chief in every department dreads, burying a member of our family. That’s what we are. We’re all family in our department. Our job is inherently dangerous and we would give our lives for one another. We work, eat, sleep and play together. We support each other when one is hurting and make fun of each other when we’re together, because that’s what a family does. I want to stand up here tonight and look all stoic, but trust me when I say that in reality, we are all hurting. I want this loss to remind us all to try a little harder and work a little closer so that we don’t have to go through needless battles. It’s good to have healthy adult conversations. We should work together towards common goals to make the city, community and surrounding communities better protected and safer to live. That is what Dan was striving for and that is what we will continue to do in his name.”

Tonnancour noted that Bauer’s funeral service, with full honors, was scheduled to take place Thursday afternoon at Pine Grove Community Church. 

“Lastly, I want to take this opportunity to thank the community for their support. It has been immense and we feel extremely blessed,” he said. “We will come out of this in time and we will be stronger and more united than ever before. This is the very definition of community and this is why we all choose to live and work here. Thank you.”

Following Tonnancour’s remarks, Mayor Kris Hanus requested a moment of silence in memory of the assistant chief. 

Bauer, 42, was a member of the department for nearly 19 years before a heart attack took his life. He is survived bis wife, Jenna, and their four children.

Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].