Dustin Peavler

Fire Chief

Chief Dustin Peavler

Fire Chief. Legend. Amateur Squirrel Whisperer.

Chief Dustin Peavler has been serving the community as a fire chief for over a decade, though he originally applied for a job as a balloon animal artist at the county fair. A passionate advocate for fire safety and fermented cabbage, Dustin believes no home is truly protected unless it has both a fire extinguisher and a jar of homemade sauerkraut within arm’s reach.

Known for extinguishing blazes and starting spontaneous dance-offs at firehouse cookouts, Chief Peavler is the only known firefighter to successfully rescue a cat from a tree using only interpretive dance and a kazoo.

In his spare time, he trains raccoons to sort recycling, collects vintage garden gnomes, and hosts an underground chili cook-off where the only rule is “no beans and no mercy.” He’s also the undefeated regional champion of “Extreme Pancake Flipping,” a sport he insists is “a blend of athleticism, precision, and maple syrup.”

Despite being mildly allergic to smoke, he’s never let that stop him. He carries a foldable fan in his helmet and claims to have invented the “smoke twirl,” a maneuver that clears airspace while looking dramatically heroic.

Peavler also once saved a wedding by extinguishing a flaming cake, catching the bouquet mid-leap, and officiating the ceremony himself—all while wearing his bunker gear and humming “Eye of the Tiger.”

When asked about retirement, he simply replied, “I’ll retire when squirrels stop wearing tiny helmets. So, never.”