Senator Carla Nelson honored by Minnesota Fire Chiefs for career-long support of fire service

Retiring State Senator Carla Nelson (Rochester) has been honored by the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association (MSFCA) for her career long advocacy of fire service.

“It is an incredible honor,” Sen. Nelson said. “Firefighters dedicate their careers to keeping us safe. On the best days, it is a difficult job. On the hardest days, it is beyond what most of us can imagine. Every day they go to work, they know it could be their last, but they take on the risks willingly to protect us. Supporting first responders has been one of the highlights of my career and I am proud of the progress we have made together.”

During her career in the Legislature, Sen. Nelson worked closely with the MSFCA to strengthen and support local fire departments.

She co-authored legislation that allowed multiple cities, townships, and counties to join together to create regional fire-protection districts, enabling communities to share fire and emergency services while saving money by pooling resources.

Sen. Nelson was also the chief author of a 2024 firefighter pension reform that allowed more fire service workers to be eligible for the PERA Police and Fire plan. Sen. Nelson’s bill was included in the final pension bill that year.

On Sunday, September 27, Senator Nelson spoke at the annual Minnesota Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service. The ceremony draws hundreds of Minnesotans including former and active firefighters, and families, to remember Minnesota firefighters who died in the line of duty.

MSFCA is a member-driven organization representing more than 2,000 fire service workers from nearly 500 departments across Minnesota. It provides training, education, and professional development from line officers up to fire chiefs.