Madison College is making life easier for rural firefighters. Volunteer, part-time or full-time firefighters for the first time this fall may complete the school’s 62-credit Fire Protection Technician degree program online. The school expects the move will help firefighters continue their education regardless of where they live or when they work.
- PUB DATE: 8/30/2018 3:39:24 PM - SOURCE: wisc news

Sauk County Emergency Management evacuated about 10 Rock Springs residents early Thursday morning as the Baraboo River's water level continued to rise from the rain dumped onto central Wisconsin earlier this week. While evacuations in Rock Springs are complete, according to Sauk County Emergency Management director Jeff Jelinek, county officials are turning their eyes to the next village in which water will pass: North Freedom.
- PUB DATE: 8/30/2018 6:13:35 AM - SOURCE: wisc news

While the Mosinee Fire Department gets new boots, another one is filing them. The Stevens Point Fire Department kicked off its annual "Fill the Boot" campaign Wednesday. The fundraising effort raises money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, helping patients and families suffering from muscle-debilitating diseases.
- PUB DATE: 8/29/2018 11:01:18 PM - SOURCE: WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau

It was a pleasent surprise for firefighters in Mosinee on Wednesday afternoon. Wisconsin Public Service Foundation surprised the Mosinee Fire Department with a $2,000 grant that was used for new equipment for the firefighters. The firefighters thought they were going to a be given a training by WPS but instead were walked out to their firetrucks where brand new boots were on display.
- PUB DATE: 8/29/2018 3:55:10 PM - SOURCE: WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau

An afternoon of kids playing in the rain turned into a frantic scene Tuesday as more than 40 emergency responders from a half dozen agencies descended on a subdivision here where an 11-year-old boy went missing, apparently sucked into a culvert in a drainage ditch following torrential rains that flooded the streets and swelled the nearby retention pond.
- PUB DATE: 8/29/2018 3:48:31 PM - SOURCE: Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune

To honor fallen firefighter Cory Barr and help the Sun Prairie community, Potosi Brewing and Wisconsin Distributors are partnering to release a new commemorative pilsner. A release says after the tragic events of July 10, when a gas leak caused a major explosion in downtown Sun Prairie, Wisconsin Distributors, which is located in Sun Prairie, wanted to do its part in helping lift everyone's spirits and bring the community together.
- PUB DATE: 8/29/2018 8:31:24 AM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

An 11-year-old boy was rescued Tuesday afternoon being disappearing in a flooded drainage ditch in Calumet County's Village of Harrison. The sheriff's office says the boy was playing with friends in the drainage ditch at about 6 p.m. The severe storms had passed but it was still raining, and the road was under about 3 feet of water.
- PUB DATE: 8/29/2018 8:03:37 AM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

Tuesday afternoon's storms resulted in more damage in some areas still cleaning up from storms over the past week. The National Weather Service will be sending survey teams to assess the damages to confirm multiple sightings of tornadoes. Fond du Lac County Executive Allen Buechel declared a state of emergency, the county announced Tuesday night.
- PUB DATE: 8/29/2018 6:44:43 AM - SOURCE: WBAY.com

Volunteer firefighters are hitting the streets in Eau Claire Tuesday to raise money to help children and adults living with muscular dystrophy, ALS and other related neuro-muscular diseases. The Eau Claire Fire Department says it's spreading awareness for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Full-time firefighter and retirees will be stationed outside of Gordy’s Market, Walmart, Shopko and the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport to collect funds.
- PUB DATE: 8/28/2018 5:06:35 PM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News

The first ever ‘Battle of the Badges’ blood drive is taking place in Eau Claire as the American Red Cross says it's facing an emergency need for blood and platelet donors. The Red Cross is partnering with the Eau Claire Police and Fire Departments to help fill some of the need. Each person who donates will be given a special Battle of the Badges t-shirt.
- PUB DATE: 8/28/2018 5:06:34 PM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News

The Delton Fire Department will host its annual Block Party at the Lake Delton Fire and EMS Complex, located at 45 Miller Drive, on Sept. 8 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. The free family-friendly event is a fundraiser that goes towards the cost of the fire department’s special operations trailer, a necessary tool to help the fire department carry out its duties properly.
- PUB DATE: 8/28/2018 2:20:58 PM - SOURCE: wisc news

Thanks to Kenosha Firefighters C.A.R.E., warning signs in English and Spanish will be designed and given to the city of Kenosha for placement near the mouth of the Pike River. The Parks Commission initially was uncertain Monday whether its members needed to vote on paying for signs offered by two different makers for the purpose.
- PUB DATE: 8/28/2018 2:04:08 AM - SOURCE: Kenosha News

The general public is uninformed about all the services provided by a local fire department, according to a recently released focus group study of the La Crosse Fire Department. The focus groups were held earlier this year to gauge how the department is working for its community members. Every five years, the fire department is re-accredited.
- PUB DATE: 8/27/2018 5:37:27 PM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

Monday, Black River Falls Firefighter Alec Muth took his final call. Hundreds came out to the Lunda Community Center to remember the volunteer firefighter. Muth passed away earlier this month after a motorcycle accident. "Alec, of course, was very, very intense about serving as a firefighter and everybody knew it.
- PUB DATE: 8/27/2018 5:17:39 PM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News

Lightning striking a nearby tree early Monday is believed to be the cause of a fire that severely damaged a rural Marshfield home, authorities said. Town of McMillan Fire Chief Rodney Bauer said the fire broke out about 5:30 a.m. shortly after lightning struck a tree about 12 feet from the home. At least half the home was damaged.
- PUB DATE: 8/27/2018 1:55:36 PM - SOURCE: WAOW-TV ABC 9-Wausau

A 61-year-old man admitted to starting three fires at a home in the 2500 block of Simonis Street on Friday morning, including in a bed where two people were sleeping, according to police. The man knew the residents of the home and fled the scene but was found just over 20 minutes after setting the fires, according to the Stevens Point Police Department.
- PUB DATE: 8/27/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Stevens Point Journal

A Fond du Lac family was displaced after their home started on fire early Sunday morning. Fond du Lac Fire/Rescue said the fire was started by careless smoking. They said the fire could've been a lot worse. The house did not have working smoke detectors, but fortunately, someone woke up and alerted the rest of the family.
- PUB DATE: 8/26/2018 5:56:22 PM - SOURCE: NBC26

The Dane County Regional Airport is back open after a small plane fire Saturday afternoon. The airport announced the reopening around 4:15 p.m., after crews were able to clear a runway after a small fire started in a private plane. Just after 2:00 p.m., a private Cessna Citation aircraft had a catastrophic failure during takeoff and had to abort.
- PUB DATE: 8/25/2018 3:36:24 PM - SOURCE: WMSN-TV Fox 47 Madison

The Sun Prairie High School football team went all out to celebrate first responders and honor fallen firefighter Captain Cory Barr. Players wore special jerseys spelling out Sun Prairie strong on the back. The team auctioned 20 of those jerseys with proceeds going to the Sun Prairie disaster relief.
- PUB DATE: 8/24/2018 11:22:22 PM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

Cambridge emergency officials are warning people to stay out of Koshkonong Creek after a high-water-related near-tragedy Thursday. Cambridge Fire Chief Terry Johnson said a canoe containing two children and an adult capsized about 4:30 p.m. Thursday in CamRock County Park, near the juncture of County Hwy.
- PUB DATE: 8/24/2018 1:53:54 AM - SOURCE: Cambridge News / Deerfield Independent