Rhinelander’s own: Johnson officially sworn in as fire chief

After months of leading the Rhinelander Fire Department in an interim capacity, Adam “A.J.” Johnson was officially sworn in Wednesday as fire chief — a moment he described as a chance to finally “focus ahead.”
Johnson, a Rhinelander native, stepped into the interim role following the departure of former Chief Brian Tonnancour, who left in January to take the fire chief position in Chippewa Falls. The official swearing-in marks the close of a transitional chapter for a department that has weathered significant change in recent years, including the tragic loss of assistant chief Dan Bauer who died of a heart attack in November 2024.
For Johnson, the job is personal. Those who know him say his deep roots in the community are evident, and he doesn’t shy away from the weight that comes with the badge.
“You’re the chief every day,” he said. “When the sun goes down, it doesn’t go away. You’re responsible for 8,200 people. When you think of it that way, it can be overwhelming at times.”
But Johnson said that sense of responsibility is grounded by his faith in both the community and his department. He credited the firefighters themselves — not his own leadership — for steering the department through a difficult stretch.

“That is the resiliency of the group,” he said. “They’re a fantastic group that, when adversity is up against them, they find a way. I’m super proud of leading that group. They’re very knowledgeable, very dependable, and they’re good at their jobs.”
Johnson said Rhinelander’s tightly knit public sector — spanning the school system, parks, streets, and water departments — gives him confidence heading into the role. “There’s a large core of us that are from here,” he noted, pointing to the community’s ability to “band together as good or better than any other community around” when transparent communication is in place.
Looking ahead, Johnson outlined a full plate: next year’s budget, updated policies and procedures, and a heightened focus on emergency management, which falls under the fire department’s oversight. He pointed to the tornado that recently struck the nearby Town of Ringle as a stark reminder of the region’s vulnerability.
“We never know — we could be like Ringle, just like that,” he said. “There’s a lot of prep work, a lot of pre-planning for any type of emergency, whether it’s for local industries or broader emergency action plans.”
After taking the oath of office, Johnson offered a pledge.
“It means a lot to be sworn in as the chief,” he said. “I’m proud to be the chief and I will work tirelessly so you are all proud of that as well.”