Owatonna Fire Department is proud to announce that Paid-On-Call Firefighter Jason Karsten has been selected as the 2022 Firefighter of the Year. Fire Chief Ed Hoffman selected Jason for this honor with input from fire department staff. The criteria used to select the award recipient includes performance above and beyond the regular duties of a firefighter, being a genuinely good person, desire to be a good firefighter, being a good team member, and using knowledge and skills in a positive way that improves the fire department.
Jason began his career with the fire department as a resident firefighter on October 9, 2002. He spent two years living at the fire station before moving out and becoming a paid-on-call firefighter. Jason has been a great mentor to many firefighters over the years and is frequently called upon by the full-time firefighters to assist with department trainings and at fire incidents. Jason works full-time as a heavy equipment mechanic with the Minnesota Department of Transportation and joined their fire team last year, after spending eight years as a smokechaser for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching his son and daughter play sports, and spending time outdoors hunting, and fishing.
The Exchange Club of Owatonna is hosting the 2022 Firefighter Recognition Banquet honoring Jason and all firefighters that serve Owatonna on Tuesday, October 11 at the Owatonna Eagles Club. The banquet is open the community and tickets are available for $25 at Kottke’s Jewelers and Owatonna InstyPrints.