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OCTOBER 6-12, 2024
It’s worth it
Pflueger marks 35 years on the AFD
to help
BY BEN SONNEK | STAFF WRITER
While it has not always been easy, Chris Pflueger has reached 35 years as a firefighter with the Avon Fire Department. And, with the community’s support, he plans to continue for as long as he can. “It’s fantastic to see that you’ve helped somebody,” Pflueger said. Pflueger was born and raised on a farm near St. Joseph on the outskirts of St. John’s University. When he was a child, his neighbors were in a car accident at the end of his driveway. His parents, John and Joan Pflueger, were not first responders, but they both rushed to the scene to help as the fire and medical teams and sheriff’s office arrived. “Fortunately, it wasn’t a bad accident, but they talked about it for a while,” Pflueger said. “After the husband was
PHOTO BY BEN SONNEK
Chris Pflueger stands in the garage of the Avon Fire Department Sept. 17 in Avon. Pflueger has been part of the AFD for 35 years.
out of the hospital, the neighbors came over and thanked my parents for helping out. Ever since then, I was always interested in being somebody who’d help out, and that’s where it got started.” Later, Pflueger was working at Lumber One in
ST R Herald
Avon. He lived in town, and Larry Schmidt, the Avon Fire Department chief at the time, asked him if he wanted to become a firefighter. Pflueger agreed, and 35 years later, he is still a member of the AFD.
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