Area first responders are remembering the victims and families impacted by the September 11 attacks. Eighteen years ago today, 19 people associated with the Islamic extremist group al Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks against the United State A total of 2,977 people were killed in New York City, Washington, D.
- PUB DATE: 9/11/2019 8:41:09 PM - SOURCE: WMSN-TV Fox 47 Madison

The Chippewa Fire District is set to change after a town decided to branch off on its own. The town of Wheaton town board voted 4-1 on Tuesday to leave the Chippewa Fire District at the end of 2020, a partnership consisting of the village of Lake Hallie and the towns of Lafayette, Hallie and Howard.
- PUB DATE: 9/11/2019 2:57:17 PM - SOURCE: Chippewa Herald

The Madison and Fire Departments are continuing their tradition of hosting their 'Never Forget' blood drive at the new Fire Station 14. This year marks the 8th year for the blood drive and the 18th anniversary of 9/11. The departments will also hold a special memorial ceremony to honor and remember those first responders who paid the ultimate sacrifice on this day.
- PUB DATE: 9/11/2019 6:11:52 AM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

The Town of Wheaton Board voted Tuesday night to leave the Chippewa Fire District, which would happen at the end of 2020. However, that vote is contingent on the town being able to secure EMS services from either the City of Eau Claire or the City of Chippewa Falls. According to Fire District Board President Dave Staber, the Town of Wheaton must give formal notice of leaving the fire district by October 1, at which time the town will still be part of the fire district for another 15 months.
- PUB DATE: 9/10/2019 11:24:06 PM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News

Wisconsin fire departments are seeing a shortage of firefighters. In Baraboo, a "Firefighters Wanted" sign hangs from one of the firehouses. The chief there says only four of the 34 firefighters he has on staff are full time. He says firefighting just isn't a lifelong career anymore. One challenge is pay, another is the time commitment.
- PUB DATE: 9/10/2019 3:44:11 PM - SOURCE: WDJT-TV CBS 58 Milwaukee

A recent rash of fire calls caused by spontaneous combustion has area fire officials shaking their heads at the rarity of several in a row. The act itself seems mysterious and complicated — a fire starting with no apparent source of ignition — but it's all very scientific. Combustion happens when a fuel combines with oxygen to produce heat from a recognizable source, like a match.
- PUB DATE: 9/10/2019 6:07:08 AM - SOURCE: Wausau Daily Herald

State officials have detected toxic firefighting foam from a Marinette manufacturer in the basement of a nearby home — a finding that prompted the Department of Natural Resources on Monday to warn other residents to be on the lookout for similar signs of contamination. The potentially harmful foam containing perfluorinated chemicals had seeped into the basement earlier this year through cracks in the floor and walls, likely as a result of water saturating the ground due to wet weather conditions, the DNR said.
- PUB DATE: 9/10/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Journal Sentinel

The La Crosse Fire Department is officially welcoming some new members to the department. Three firefighters were sworn-in Monday at city hall. They took the La Crosse Firefighters' Oath and got their badges. The recruits have actually been on the force for about a year, but just completed their one-year probationary period and were promoted to full-time, permanent firefighters.
- PUB DATE: 9/9/2019 9:47:38 PM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

As fire departments nationwide have grappled with recruitment and retention challenges, area firefighters in Sauk, Marquette and Columbia counties say it’s becoming harder to find people available for fire calls during the day. “It’s kind of a roll of the dice,” Baraboo Fire Chief Kevin Stieve said.
- PUB DATE: 9/8/2019 6:49:15 PM - SOURCE: wisc news

The Shelby Fire Department held a waffle breakfast with a firefighter challenge at their station on Sunday. Guest could take their food outside and watch firefighters compete to hook up hoses, carry a ladder, use a sledge hammer and tie a clove-hitch knot the fastest. Shelby's assistant chief, Tony Holinka, said firefighting takes more than fitness.
- PUB DATE: 9/8/2019 6:21:01 PM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

No one was injured after a fire at a single family home on St. George St. Green Bay Metro Fire Department responded to the fire around 1:53 p.m. Sunday and found a fire in the back of a home and in the attic. The fire was knocked down within five minutes and no one was inside the home at the time. Two adults and two children were displaced from the home and estimated damage is worth $50,000.
- PUB DATE: 9/8/2019 2:39:47 PM - SOURCE: WFRV-TV and WJMN-TV Green Bay

For seven years running firefighters and their families, from across the nation, have been visiting Lambeau Field to honor their brothers and sisters who lost their lives on 9/11. On 09/11/01 343 firefighters lost their lives trying to save others before the twin towers fell. Today at Lambeau Field folks from across the country, tried to honor their sacrifice.
- PUB DATE: 9/7/2019 4:42:45 PM - SOURCE: NBC26

For 25 years, when Fire Chief Jerry Minor needed a place for firefighters and emergency medical service workers to train, one person's name always came to his mind first. Peter Petersen wasn't a firefighter or a paramedic, but the man who grew up on a farm on Wood County A and State 73 played an important role for the Pittsville Fire Department.
- PUB DATE: 9/6/2019 8:43:11 PM - SOURCE: Wisconsin State Farmer

Firefighters with Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue took time on their days off to create a piece in remembrance of 9/11. The piece, coming in at 10 feet by 5 feet, replaces a 17-year-old display that hung in the stairwell of Station 32. “The display was given to us after 9/11. It had pictures of the event and the saying ‘never forget’,” says Firefighter Scott Harding.
- PUB DATE: 9/6/2019 4:57:02 PM - SOURCE: WFRV-TV and WJMN-TV Green Bay

An overnight fire at a manufacturing building has caused an estimated $100,000 in damages. The Kaukauna Fire Department responded to a report of a fire at Roloff Manufacturing on 400 Gertrude Street at 12:36 a.m. Friday morning. The witness who called in the fire could reportedly see flames through the facility’s windows.
- PUB DATE: 9/6/2019 5:43:56 AM - SOURCE: WFRV-TV and WJMN-TV Green Bay

The Town of Wheaton in Chippewa County held a public hearing Thursday, Sept. 5 to discuss potentially leaving the Chippewa Fire District. The fire district currently serves four towns and the Village of Lake Hallie. Last year, the Town of Wheaton paid just more than $200,000 to be a part of the Chippewa Fire District.
- PUB DATE: 9/5/2019 8:21:20 PM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News

Milwaukee Firefighters were called to 1 Stop Tire and Battery near N. Sherman Blvd. and W. Capitol Dr. at 2:30 a.m. Thursday morning for reports of fire in a flatbed truck next to the business. According to Milwaukee Fire, crews responded with four engines and two trucks, and battled the fire inside the truck for just under an hour before the it was contained The business next to the truck did not sustain any damage.
- PUB DATE: 9/5/2019 6:15:12 AM - SOURCE: WDJT-TV CBS 58 Milwaukee

A series of public information meetings to get feedback on revised plans for a new firehouse in Wheatland continue today. “The goal is to get accurate information out there to the public and get their feedback,” Fire Chief Lou Denko said. “There is still a rumor out there that this is a $5.5 million project.
- PUB DATE: 9/5/2019 4:28:56 AM - SOURCE: Kenosha News

Firefighters in La Crosse continued a long-standing tradition on Wednesday, helping raise money for those with Muscular Dystrophy in Southern Wisconsin. For over 10 years, members of the La Crosse Area Professional Firefighters Local 127 Fire Department have teamed up with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) to hold boots in their hands and collect spare change.
- PUB DATE: 9/4/2019 8:14:41 PM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

In his 30 years as Fall River fire chief – including 47 total on staff – Gene Adam has seen ups and downs when it comes to staffing. As a small town, volunteer-based organization, the Fall River Fire Department has never had an over-abundance of personnel, but in recent years, numbers have been especially low.
- PUB DATE: 9/4/2019 2:08:41 PM - SOURCE: Columbus Journal