For a few minutes on a Wednesday afternoon Lt. Shauna Walesh was all about “Interstellar Cinderella.” Holding the book up, she read into a cellphone mounted on a tripod, broadcasting the story live to Facebook. The reading is part of a weekly program, Storytime (CQ) with a Firefighter. It started as a way to provide fire education during Fire Prevention Week last fall when many kids were at home.
- PUB DATE: 3/10/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Spectrum News 1

“We, the residents of La Crosse, demand the Common Council order the La Crosse Fire Department change their plans to demolish historic Fire Station No. 4.” That was the message delivered in a petition by the Preservation Alliance of La Crosse. “We are looking at this as an opportunity to save money for the city, and save a historic building,” PAL president Barb Kooiman said.
- PUB DATE: 3/9/2021 5:39:37 PM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

A construction worker was taken to the hospital Tuesday after being knocked down by a 2,000-pound boulder. Crews were called to the 4400 block of North Lake Drive just after 9 a.m. North Shore firefighters used ropes and pulleys to lift the man to safety. Mud from melting snow made their efforts more dangerous.
- PUB DATE: 3/9/2021 11:22:39 AM - SOURCE: WISN-TV ABC 12 Milwaukee

No one was injured in an apartment fire on La Crosse’s northside Monday. Firefighters were called to the apartment building at 1208 Avon St. at about 6:55 a.m. When they arrived on scene, thick, black smoke was coming from a second story apartment in the multi-family building. It took the 22 firefighters about 5 minutes to put out the fire and account for all of the tenants in the building.
- PUB DATE: 3/8/2021 9:09:38 PM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

A group of citizens has launched an online petition encouraging city officials to preserve a North Side fire station instead of demolishing it for an updated facility. “The building is a cultural and economic asset that belongs to the taxpayers,” said the petition, which had just over 100 signatures Monday morning.
- PUB DATE: 3/8/2021 10:24:15 AM - SOURCE: Lacrosse Tribune - Metered Site

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) urges the public to complete any vegetative debris burning and check any previously burned piles for lingering embers before the snow melts, particularly in the storm-impacted areas of Langlade and Oconto counties. This is the safest time of the year to burn as fires are less likely to escape and cause a wildfire.
- PUB DATE: 3/8/2021 8:32:26 AM - SOURCE: Antigo Times

One firefighter was transported to UW Hospital after responding to a garage fire in the Village of Fall River. Fall River firefighters responded to a garage fire attached to an apartment complex at 361 Fox Trail Saturday, just before 9:00 p.m. Once on the scene, firefighters found smoke coming from one of the garages.
- PUB DATE: 3/7/2021 5:10:04 PM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

Fox Crossing officials say they’re investigating the cause of an early morning fire that ended up damaging a home Sunday. According to the Fox Crossing Fire Department, crews were called to the 700 block of Hummingbird Lane just before 6:30 a.m. for a report of a shed on fire. While traveling to the address, the Communications Center said they had confirmed it was a residential house fire.
- PUB DATE: 3/7/2021 3:14:05 PM - SOURCE: WBAY-TV ABC 2 Green Bay

Fire officials say one person has been displaced following an overnight fire at a Grand Chute duplex. According tot he Grand Chute Fire Department, crews were called to a building at 1110 South Nicolet shortly after 4 a.m. Saturday. When they arrived, firefighters found flames coming from the roof, and crews entered the building to do a search, as well as attack the fire.
- PUB DATE: 3/7/2021 1:42:16 PM - SOURCE: WBAY-TV ABC 2 Green Bay

An emotional day in Cornell on Friday, as Firefighter Justin Fredrickson was released from an Eau Claire hospital. “It is a brotherhood, fire departments are a brotherhood, I can’t explain it unless you’ve been here,” says Cornell Area Fire Department Chief Dennis Klass. Klass says the community support is overwhelming.
- PUB DATE: 3/5/2021 10:40:32 PM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

Brandon Jones chalks it up to pure luck. There have been many calls Jones went on as a Madison firefighter and paramedic where he could have been infected with COVID-19. Like the young boy who broke his arm, whom Jones consoled closely even though the boy wasn’t wearing a mask. He found out later on that the boy tested positive for COVID-19.
- PUB DATE: 3/5/2021 1:10:53 PM - SOURCE: Lake Geneva News - Metered Site

Since the fall, firefighter Tasha Kirch has been learning the skills of what it takes to become a paramedic in a Madison College classroom. But now, Tasha and her fellow Paramedic Academy students are learning in the field, on actual calls with paramedics. In between ambulance calls, checking cabinets full of medical equipment in the back of an ambulance at Madison Fire Station #4 Kirch said, “Oh, this is the best hands-on classroom a girl could get.
- PUB DATE: 3/4/2021 9:37:42 PM - SOURCE: WMTV NBC 15 Madison

Authorities in South Central Wisconsin are warning about dangerous ice conditions after crews responded to two ice rescues in one week. Portage Police Department said the latest case happened on the Wisconsin River. According to a press release, first responders were called to the 700 block of W. Edgewater Street at 5:27 p.
- PUB DATE: 3/4/2021 6:44:13 PM - SOURCE: WMTV NBC 15 Madison

A garage fire that started near a wood burning stove caused tens of thousands of dollars to the detached structure. According to the Madison Fire Dept., firefighters were called to the home in the 3500 block of Portage Road shortly after 10:30 a.m. and could see light smoke coming from the garage as they arrived.
- PUB DATE: 3/4/2021 5:32:56 PM - SOURCE: WMTV NBC 15 Madison

The City of La Crosse claims products containing PFAS chemicals caused contamination of public and private wells in a lawsuit filed against nearly two dozen chemical companies on Thursday. The suit filed by Milwaukee-based law firm Crueger Dickinson and firm Napoli Shkolnik in La Crosse County Circuit Court alleges that cities like La Crosse used aqueous firefighting foams (AFFF) that contained perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for decades without any knowledge of the harmful effects the chemicals pose to public health.
- PUB DATE: 3/4/2021 3:07:43 PM - SOURCE: Wisconsin Public Radio

A $75,000 donation from an anonymous donor helped the Twin Lakes Fire Department and Rescue Squad purchase 22 new self-contained breathing apparatus packs. Fire Chief Stan Clause said the donation was made in honor of former department member Johan Kjellander, who died in March 2020. Kjellander was a member of the department for 65 years, where he served as a rescue squad captain.
- PUB DATE: 3/4/2021 1:45:30 PM - SOURCE: Kenosha News - Metered Site

The Neillsville Fire Department responded to a chimney fire this morning. According to Neillsville’s Fire Chief, they received a call about a chimney fire around 5:29am at W5299 Bob White Road in the Township of Weston. The fire was contained to the chimney and there was no structural damage to the home.
- PUB DATE: 3/4/2021 12:29:05 PM - SOURCE: WCCN-FM 107.5

We’re not supposed to forget our heroes. But 25 years ago, the heroes themselves, the ones that helped save the city of Weyauwega, they couldn’t wait to forget. A train derailment, 469,000 gallons of burning propane, and 14 days wondering if this day would be their last; they didn’t want to be heroes anymore.
- PUB DATE: 3/4/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Spectrum News

It's a good thing, and maybe even a refreshing change, when one arm of local government reaches out to praise another. That's what happened Wednesday, March 3, all in the name of fire safety. "Let's make something positive. Let's make something that will actually have an impact on prevention." Acting Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski held a news conference to publicly thank a group of volunteers led by Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa.
- PUB DATE: 3/3/2021 6:46:42 PM - SOURCE: WDJT-TV CBS 58 Milwaukee

Western Technical College has lots of space at its Sparta campus and is taking steps to utilize it. The college announced that work on a $4.7 million remodeling and expansion of the Public Safety Training Facility will begin later this spring. The project will accommodate the move of Western’s Emergency Medical Service training program from downtown La Crosse to the Sparta campus located in the Monroe County town of Angelo.
- PUB DATE: 3/3/2021 5:34:42 PM - SOURCE: Lacrosse Tribune