The Good Life – March-April 2021

ON THE COVER | MARK EMPTING
After he turned 5 years old, his parents divorced and his
father moved to the Iron Range in northern Minnesota
where he worked as a roadmaster for the railroad.
Empting’s mother worked at The Academy, a modeling
agency in Fargo. When she was at work, his siblings and
he would walk to their grandparents’ place, a building
downtown that held his grandfather’s barbershop below
and their apartment above.
During the many days he spent at the barbershop,
Empting could look across the street and watch the
activity brewing at City Hall and the Dilworth Fire
Department. He would even go over to talk to the
firemen. As time went by, his admiration grew as he
imagined the adrenaline rush of answering the call to
help people in their greatest time of need.
Adrenaline junkie
In 1991, only a month after turning 18, he joined the
Dilworth Fire Department. Still in high school, Empting
would occasionally have to leave class during a fire call,
but he was dedicated to his new role.
Thirty years later, Empting has experienced his fair
share of danger. Going into a burning building is always
precarious, but some situations have been particularly
hazardous.
"Probably the hottest fire I’ve ever been in
was a house fire where we were searching
for animals. When we were in there it got
so super hot it was melting the shields on
our helmets.”
“Probably the hottest fire I’ve ever been in was a house
fire where we were searching for animals. When we were
in there it got so super hot it was melting the shields on
our helmets,” Empting said. “It’s been some great times.
Any member of a fire department is going to be kind of
an adrenaline junkie. That’s one of the reasons you get
into it. Those are actually fun times because you’re out
there helping the community. It’s the worst time of their
life, but you’re able to help them out a little bit.”
For the past 7 years, Empting has been Dilworth’s fire
chief. He stays out of the burning buildings now to
direct the situations at hand, but the knowledge and
experiences he has under his belt make him a vital asset
to everyone’s safety.
20 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com