Here in Wisconsin the US Fire Administration estimates about 90 percent of our firefighters are volunteers. And if you talk to just about any rural fire department they'll tell you, trying to find those volunteers is getting more difficult.
That's in part why Senator Tammy Baldwin has sponsored the Volunteer First Responder Housing Act, a bill that would give lower income volunteer firefighters and volunteer EMT's loan guarantees to purchase homes. - PUB DATE: 12/26/2019 4:43:48 PM - SOURCE: NBC26
Local firefighters are responding to a chimney fire at a residence in Pleasant Springs, according to Dane County Dispatch.
Firefighters from Stoughton and McFarland are working to put out the fire at 2056 Skaalen Road, dispatch confirmed. The call came in at 9:16 a.m.
There are no reported injuries, according to dispatch. - PUB DATE: 12/26/2019 8:41:52 AM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison
Fire destroyed a home in Calumet County Christmas night.
At about 10:17 p.m., Harrison Fire Rescue was called to a home on Lake Shore Dr. Heavy smoke and flames were coming out of the roof.
The homeowners and family they were hosting for Christmas escaped the fire without injury.
Harrison's Fire Chief says due to the home's location, firefighters had to pump water from locations up the road. - PUB DATE: 12/26/2019 7:45:37 AM - SOURCE: WBAY-TV ABC 2 Green Bay
Looking at the numbers at the end of the first year of the Racine Fire Department's home visit program, department Division Chief Brian Wolf said he's seen how the program "is greatly needed." For its first year, the program has been focused on cardiac patients. Fire Chief Steve Hansen said the department's partners in the program at Advocate Aurora and Ascension All Saints would like to see the program expanded, but the department's plan is to grow the program incrementally. - PUB DATE: 12/26/2019 5:32:09 AM - SOURCE: Racine Journal Times
Fire crews from Jefferson County and surrounding areas were called around 7:20 a.m. for a 5th Alarm fire in a large commercial building near US-18 and Co. Rd. D in Helenville on Dec. 25.
According to Helenville Fire Dept., the fire appears to have started inside the building, which has had multiple renovations and additions over the years. - PUB DATE: 12/25/2019 11:46:26 AM - SOURCE: WDJT-TV CBS 58 Milwaukee
More fires have recently broken out on La Crosse's south side. The La Crosse fire department is looking at a site for a new station in that area, but was unable to get enough money to start building one. "I know Mayor (Kabat) and (city) council we're trying to get it done, but it just wasn't in the cards," fire department Chief Ken Gilliam said. - PUB DATE: 12/24/2019 3:44:08 PM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse
Santa made a special visit to a home in Plymouth that needed some extra holiday cheer this year.
This Christmas Eve Santa and his elves are ready to embark on their once-a-year mission, but the sleigh didn't need reindeer, just firefighters.
A group of volunteer firefighters from the Glenbeulah Fire Department loaded up their fire truck with presents and made their way to the neighboring town of Plymouth with only one stop on the list: the Oberreich family home. - PUB DATE: 12/24/2019 2:49:53 PM - SOURCE: WISN-TV ABC 12 Milwaukee
Former Baraboo firefighter Tate Robinson described his emotions as he rushed to his co-worker Andy Hansen in one word: “terror.”
That feeling was mixed with uncertainty. Robinson had just been approached by a resident of the Pewaukee neighborhood where he was trimming trees. The bystander told Robinson that Hansen had been injured by a chainsaw. - PUB DATE: 12/23/2019 2:38:42 PM - SOURCE: Baraboo News Republic
First responders in Racine County came together to create a special video and experience for the children of a Union Grove-Yorkville firefighter who died just after Halloween after suffering a heart attack at a fatal crash scene.
According to a post shared on social media by the Village of Sturtevant Police Department, the video was created through the collaboration of the Sturtevant Police Department, Union Grove-Yorkville Fire Department, Racine Honda, and the Racine area community. - PUB DATE: 12/23/2019 12:42:44 PM - SOURCE: WITI Fox Channel 6
The City and Town of Burlington have reached an agreement for the city’s Fire Department to provide emergency medical services to town residents beginning Jan. 1 after the Burlington Rescue Squad officially disbands.
The Rescue Squad’s assets will also be distributed to various area fire agencies under an agreement ratified Tuesday night by the City Council. - PUB DATE: 12/23/2019 4:49:15 AM - SOURCE: Racine Journal Times
Another red lightbulb has been added to the Keep the Wreath Green campaign after La Crosse firefighters found a fire inside a house's wall. The campaign serves as a reminder of how many fires happen during a year, especially during the holiday season.
La Crosse firefighters were dispatched to the home at 1724 Liberty St. - PUB DATE: 12/21/2019 3:38:17 PM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse
VIDEO: Ripon firefighters battled a massive house fire Friday on Cork Street Road in the Town of Ripon. Firefighters received the call just before 3:30 in the afternoon.
The fire department says it was initially told people were trapped inside the two-story home, but everyone got out safely.
The house was engulfed before fire crews were on the scene, which just north of the city limits. - PUB DATE: 12/20/2019 3:46:26 PM - SOURCE: WBAY-TV ABC 2 Green Bay
Six people were rescued from a burning home early Friday, according to the Milwaukee Fire Department. Crews were called to the area near 33rd and Mt. Vernon around 3 a.m. Authorities say once on scene, they saw flames coming from two homes.
"Me and my roommate Q went downstairs and as soon as we opened the back door there were flames coming toward us," Ryan Crumble tells CBS 58. - PUB DATE: 12/20/2019 3:52:21 AM - SOURCE: WDJT-TV CBS 58 Milwaukee
Marawood Construction has been selected to fill the general contractor position in the rebuild of the Madeline Island Fire Hall with a bid of $1,593,256.
This comes after the emergency facility was destroyed in a fire earlier in the year.
Officials say contractors needed to bid on six different components before construction would begin. - PUB DATE: 12/20/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KBJR-TV NBC/CBS 6
Green Bay firefighters say a home's electrical wiring was overtaxed by multiple space heaters and appliances, causing a fire in the attic of a home Thursday morning.
The fire department was dispatched at 8 a.m. to a report of smoke in the attic of a home on the 500-block of La Plant St., on the city's east side. - PUB DATE: 12/19/2019 1:45:39 PM - SOURCE: WBAY-TV ABC 2 Green Bay
An early-morning house fire brought firefighters from across the area to help battle the blaze in single-digit temperatures.
No one was hurt in the fire, the cause of which is still under investigation.
According to officials, the fire damage estimates are about $40,000. Officials said low temperatures were factored into the extinguishment of the fire. - PUB DATE: 12/19/2019 6:36:04 AM - SOURCE: Watertown Daily Times
A number of Watertown public service members were honored for their actions of heroism during the common council meeting Tuesday.
Dispatcher Julia Schmelzer, Police officer James Simon, Watertown Fire Assistant Chief Tim Gordon, Fire Lt. Brad Fox, firefighter/paramedic Mason Tayler, firefighter/paramedic Patrick Schultz, firefighter/paramedic Jeff Penna and firefighter/paramedic Alexa Steinbach each received a life-saving award for their actions in saving the life of a patient earlier this year. - PUB DATE: 12/19/2019 6:36:03 AM - SOURCE: Watertown Daily Times
Firefighters were able to put out Tuesday night's fire in the Village of Maine because the owner's kept their fire hydrant clear of snow. "If you can keep a three foot radius around the fire hydrant, clear of the snow and ice," said Battalion Chief Jeremy Kopp, with the Wausau Fire Department. "It makes it a lot easier if we do get an emergency. - PUB DATE: 12/18/2019 8:57:11 PM - SOURCE: WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau
Contracts with the firefighters and battalion chiefs were approved by the Menomonie City Council.
The council voted to approve collective bargaining agreements through 2022 with the Menomonie Battalion Chiefs and Menomonie Professional Firefighters Local 1697 at its meeting on Monday.
The agreement with the battalion chiefs includes wage increases of a compounded 10. - PUB DATE: 12/18/2019 1:03:48 PM - SOURCE: Dunn County News
A national pizza chain and a local department came together Tuesday night to help make the holiday season a merry one for many Chippewa Falls children.
Pizza Hut on West Prairie View Road in Chippewa Falls hosted a tip night benefiting the Literacy Project and the Chippewa Falls Public Library on Tuesday night. - PUB DATE: 12/18/2019 12:49:58 PM - SOURCE: Chippewa Herald
