Meet a Bloomington Firefighter

Aaron Gutzmann began with the Bloomington Fire Department in 2021, as an on-call firefighter. He now serves as both on-call and full-time as a firefighter paramedic.

He started his career as a paramedic in La Crosse, WI, in 2008. From 2010-2022 he worked in the metro region as a paramedic, senior quality improvement specialist and critical care paramedic. From 2021-2022, he was a full-time paramedic firefighter in St. Paul. Finally, in 2023, he was hired as a full-time firefighter paramedic for Bloomington.

“With the fire department’s push towards new and innovative ways, I was able to work as a paramedic and firefighter full time,” Gutzmann said. “It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”

Gutzmann is grateful to his wife. “Without her and her undying support, I wouldn’t be here today.” He also praised a member of his team.

“Cody Mittelstaed [a Bloomington firefighter] was pivotal during my initial training,” Gutzmann said. “I have since learned that the care and compassion he showed runs deep in the Bloomington Fire Department.”

Aaron’s fire safety advice

Learn CPR! It’s the most critical link in the chain of survival for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.