The Columbus Fire Department is garnering support to restore a true hero in Columbus – the first motorized fire truck ever purchased for the city. “We received a $20,000 donation from the estate of Eugene and Carol Niehoff that is earmarked for the restoration of our antique fire engine,” Columbus Fire Chief Randy Koehn said.
- PUB DATE: 8/14/2020 2:45:23 PM - SOURCE: Columbus Journal

Firefighters on Thursday, Aug. 13 responded to the scene of an apartment complex fire in Burlington. The call came in around 12:30 p.m. Upon arrival, the multi-unit apartment complex was being evacuated as the sprinkler system was activated on the third floor. Additional units from the Town of Burlington Fire Department and Rochester Volunteer Fire Company also responded.
- PUB DATE: 8/14/2020 7:44:52 AM - SOURCE: WITI-TV Fox 6 Milwaukee

The Manitowoc Fire Department is investigating the cause of a fire at an apartment in the 1200 block of S. 13th Street. At about 12:29 a.m., crews were called to the scene for a report of smoke and flames on the second floor. Residents escaped without injury. Firefighters were met with heavy black smoke and high heat conditions as they searched for the cause of the fire.
- PUB DATE: 8/14/2020 6:51:50 AM - SOURCE: WBAY-TV ABC 2 Green Bay

You don’t see it often. Even less so in Wisconsin — bipartisan legislation. The state got that last year in restricting firefighting foam containing PFAS, compounds that have been linked to cancer and other illnesses that have turned up drinking wells across the U.S. After some debate, lawmakers agreed to regulate the use and disposal of PFAS.
- PUB DATE: 8/14/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WIZM News Talk 1410 AM

The search for a new South Beloit Fire Chief is moving along at a brisk pace as city officials are preparing to interview six applicants for the position on Saturday. Brian Hedrington, who serves as commissioner of health and public safety on the city council, said there were 20 to 25 applicants for the fire chief’s position.
- PUB DATE: 8/13/2020 8:48:52 PM - SOURCE: Beloit Daily News

A lack of volunteers and eligible recruits in the area is forcing a longstanding fire department in rural Dodge County to make a tough decision. A large majority of Wisconsin’s fire departments are run mostly or entirely by volunteers, according to recent government statistics. It’s getting harder for many departments to recruit those volunteers, fire service leaders said, especially in rural communities.
- PUB DATE: 8/13/2020 8:38:30 PM - SOURCE: WMSN-TV Fox 47 Madison

Two firefighters were treated for injuries sustained while battling a fire at Chilton’s Kaytee Products facility. The Chilton Fire Department says they were dispatched at around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon for a commercial fire alarm via a pull station activation at Kaytee Products in the 600 block of Clay Street.
- PUB DATE: 8/13/2020 5:00:37 AM - SOURCE: WFRV-TV and WJMN-TV CBS 5 Green Bay

Randy Wichlacz was a hero to the people of Pulaski. The longtime firefighter put everything into his job at the Pulaski Tri-County Fire Department, where he became chief in 2008 after his father – the department’s former leader – died in an accident at the station. He loved to help people, said his daughter, Kimberly McGrath.
- PUB DATE: 8/13/2020 4:24:47 AM - SOURCE: Appleton Post-Gazette & The Post Crescent

A historic building in Uptown in Kenosha that houses several businesses and apartments was the scene of a massive fire early Wednesday morning. The fire, which was called in just before 8 a.m., apparently started at the Music Outlet, 6217 22nd Ave., according to Kenosha Fire Chief Charles Leipzig. Leipzig said the investigation was still ongoing and the official cause of the fire was yet to be determined, but it was believed a person inside the record store was burning incense in the early-morning hours and attempted to extinguish the fire alone, but was unsuccessful.
- PUB DATE: 8/13/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Kenosha News

The Wind Lake Volunteer Fire Department has undergone a bit of shuffling within the leadership department. Justin Lyman took over as fire chief on July 9 after the former chief, Don Catenacci, a former career firefighter with Wauwatosa and an assistant chief with Verona, retired. Catenacci began as Wind Lake chief in September 2018.
- PUB DATE: 8/12/2020 5:14:47 AM - SOURCE: Racine Journal Times

Far fewer people voted in Wheatland on a binding resolution to authorize funding for firehouse construction than voted in a non-binding referendum in February seeking support to build a new station. But, the result on Monday night was the same. Their answer was “no.” This time, by a larger margin. In February, 426 residents, or 58%, voted against a plan to spend up to $3.
- PUB DATE: 8/12/2020 1:05:23 AM - SOURCE: Kenosha News

The Beaver Dam Fire Department says about 200 gallons of formaldehyde leaked from a damaged container at Animart in Beaver Dam on Tuesday morning. The fire department was called at 9 a.m. to help contain the leak. By the time crews arrived, Animart had been evacuated. Fire crews say a 275-gallon tank was damaged, causing the leak.
- PUB DATE: 8/11/2020 1:08:14 PM - SOURCE: WISC-TV CBS 3 Madison

As Madison’s Police and Fire Commission continues searching for a permanent police chief, its members are considering changing a rule that would allow police and fire chiefs to live outside the city, but within 15 miles. Under the commission’s current rules, a police or fire chief appointee “shall establish residence within 60 days after appointment.
- PUB DATE: 8/11/2020 5:39:09 AM - SOURCE: Racine Journal Times

When it comes to aircraft firefighting and rescue operations, the stakes are enormous. That's why it's so vital to provide instructional programs to promote and ensure safety. One of the most promising and comprehensive training centers in the Midwest – and beyond – is based in the Fox Cities. The new Fox Valley Technical College Airport Rescue and Firefighting training facility, a partnership with the Appleton International Airport, began booking trainees in June.
- PUB DATE: 8/11/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Post Crescent

One person was hospitalized after diving from a pontoon boat into Lake Mendota Sunday afternoon, according to City of Madison Fire Department. Firefighters said after remaining underwater for about one minute, the diver resurfaced unconscious. Other passengers pulled the diver onto the pontoon and gave him chest compression until the diver regain consciousness, according to firefighters.
- PUB DATE: 8/10/2020 5:46:03 PM - SOURCE: WISC-TV CBS 3 Madison

A boy died while swimming in a southwest Wisconsin river on Saturday afternoon, according to law enforcement officials. At around 2:41 p.m. on Saturday, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office was sent to a report of a possible drowning in the Grant River. The incident was reported near Pigeon River Road, about a mile from its intersection with County Road U.
- PUB DATE: 8/10/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KCRG-TV ABC 9 Cedar Rapids

Oconto Fire and Rescue Department responded Friday to fire alarm with smoke in the apartment complex at 101 Van Hecke Ave. Oconto Police officers, who arrived first, confirmed the smoke was from a cooking fire, which was out. All residents of the complex had evacuated. Firefighters went inside to confirm the building was safe and make sure no fire had spread.
- PUB DATE: 8/8/2020 8:16:05 AM - SOURCE: Green Bay Press-Gazette

Three people were taken to the hospital after a mix of chemicals created toxic fumes inside a Mequon swimming pool facility on Thursday. Workers who were delivering chemicals to Splash! Swim and Wellness, 10636 N. Commerce St., had accidentally mixed sulfuric acid and bleach, creating "a large cloud of chlorine gas" around 11:14 a.
- PUB DATE: 8/7/2020 1:02:50 AM - SOURCE: Milwaukee Journal Sentinal

Middleton first responders paraded through the city Thursday evening, for a COVID-friendly National Night Out. Officer Tom Wilson said his department, along with all other Dane County agencies, had to cancel its “biggest event of the year” due to coronavirus concerns. Last year, he said, the event drew a crowd of about 1,500 to a park.
- PUB DATE: 8/7/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

August 13th marks a somber anniversary for the Green Bay Metro Fire Department. Fourteen years ago, Lieutenant Arnie Wolff died fighting a house fire on Edgewood Drive. As the anniversary of his death approaches, one of the few remaining firefighters who responded that day is talking about the importance of honoring his legacy.
- PUB DATE: 8/6/2020 4:39:56 PM - SOURCE: WBAY-TV ABC 2 Green Bay