Brian Staska, who for 30 years trained and helped others fight deadly fires, lost his battle with cancer on Friday.

Staska, of Austin, was only 53 years old, but he did much in those years.

He was credited with having developed one of the best fire science training programs in the country. He served departments in Owatonna and Stewartville and, in recent years, he served on both the Austin and Brownsdale fire departments.

For 18 years, he was the Fire Training Program Manager at Riverland Community College.

“He was a master of his trade,” said Brownsdale Fire Chief David Pike. “His passion was the fire service, working to make our firefighters safer and more efficient.”

He added that Staska’s instruction was felt throughout a good portion of Minnesota, and in Iowa, as well.

Pike said Staska was able to continue his service to Brownsdale until about three months ago when his illness prevented him from participating any longer.

“It was sad; he wanted to contribute for as long as he could,” Pike said. “He stayed with it as long as he was able.”

In 2017, Staska was honored with a lifetime achievement award from The Minnesota Council for Continuing Education and Customized Training. Those who nominated him said at the time he was “always looking for new techniques and technologies that keep firefighters safe and allow for better rescue operations for saving civilian lives.

“His passion for his work is exemplified by his constant striving to keep current in his industry and the continuous improvements he makes to his programming.”

A measure of the regard held by his friends and the firefighting community was witnessed last year during a benefit that drew over 1,000 to the Mower County Fairgrounds.

Among his survivors is his wife, Wanda, and their three children.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, at Austin High School’s Knowlton Auditorium.