The transfer of power in the Wausau Fire Department is now official, as Jeremy Kopp has been sworn in as the department's new chief.
He admitted it was an emotional moment, and the realization of a lot of dedication.
"19 years ago when I started here, if you would have told me that I might be the chief of the Wausau Fire Department one day, I would have told you, 'Not a chance, never going to happen,'" Kopp said. - PUB DATE: 12/19/2023 6:39:00 AM - SOURCE: WAOW-TV ABC 9 Wausau
VIDEO: A popular Eagle River restaurant is a total loss following an early morning fire.
Crews responded to Off the Chain around 5:30 a.m. Monday.
Investigator said a passerby noticed the fire and knocked on all the doors including a home next to the building. The passerby was able to get all the occupants from that residence out. - PUB DATE: 12/19/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau
VIDEO/PHOTO: Racine firefighters battled a fire at an apartment building on Washington Avenue just east of Taylor Avenue on Monday, Dec. 18.
The building, which caters to seniors and others on restricted incomes, was evacuated safely.
The American Red Cross set up a shelter for residents at Grace Church in Racine. - PUB DATE: 12/18/2023 3:50:59 PM - SOURCE: WITI-TV FOX 6 Milwaukee
VIDEO: Wausau Fire Department Chief Bob Barteck bid farewell to his 33-year career in public service on Dec. 15, marking the end of an era.
Serving as chief since June of 2021, Barteck had previously dedicated over 25 years to the Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department.
The central Wisconsin community gathered to celebrate Chief Barteck’s distinguished career, with familiar faces in attendance, including Wausau Chief of Police Matthew Barnes and Mayor Katie Rosenberg. - PUB DATE: 12/18/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau
Lake Country Fire and Rescue responded early Friday, Dec. 15 to a house fire on Crooked Creek Road in the Town of Delafield.
Officials said a 911 call by the homeowner stated there was fire in the home and that those inside were getting to safety.
Because there are no fire hydrants in the area, fire officials upgraded the response – bringing Hartland, Pewaukee, Vernon and Lisbon firefighters to the scene. - PUB DATE: 12/18/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WITI-TV FOX 6 Milwaukee
A Fitchburg family was displaced and their pets killed after a box alarm fire that summoned over 15 agencies Friday night.
Fitchburg Fire Rescue explained in a Facebook post that a house on the 1800 block of Schuster Rd, caught fire around 8:40 p.m.
The house is on the border of Fitchburg, so Fitchburg and Oregon Fire responded. - PUB DATE: 12/17/2023 6:51:00 AM - SOURCE: WMTV NBC/CW 15 Madison
VIDEO: Two Appleton families are left without a home after a duplex fire Thursday. Earlier while I was at the scene, I talked to one of the families. They didn't want to talk about what happened on camera, but here’s what they told me.
They said if it wasn’t for a neighbor running over to tell them about the fire things could’ve been worse. - PUB DATE: 12/15/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WGBA-TV NBC 26 Green Bay
Janesville Fire Chief James Ponkauskas will retire this spring after 30 years with the agency, the city of Janesville announced Thursday.
Ponkauskas began his career in the fire service in 1988 as a firefighter and EMT for the Orfordville Fire Protection District. He then served there as fire chief of 13 years, half of his time with the department. - PUB DATE: 12/14/2023 11:39:00 PM - SOURCE: WKOW-TV ABC 27 Madison
PHOTOS: Baileys Harbor firefighters celebrated homecoming recently – for the first fire truck the department ever had.
For decades, Florian II and Blue Ox owners Joe and Jerry Kwaterski displayed a retired Baileys Harbor fire truck outside their supper club all summer for guests and visitors to see. - PUB DATE: 12/14/2023 12:26:19 PM - SOURCE: Door County Pulse
PHOTO: The greatest tragedy to befall the Fort Atkinson Fire Department occurred 100 years ago on Dec. 17, 1923. While responding to a call for help the City’s new 1923 American LaFrance fire truck and personnel were involved in a crash killing three firefighters and injuring three more.
The City of Fort Atkinson Fire Department will honor the fallen firefighters at the Highway 12 crash site Thursday, Dec. - PUB DATE: 12/14/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Watertown Daily Times
VIDEO: Last week, Gov. Tony Evers signed a bill that would expand the Safe Haven Law, allowing parents to anonymously and safely surrender their newborns to hospitals, fire stations, police stations.
The update came months after southern Wisconsin was shaken by the news of an abandoned newborn child found dead in a cornfield just outside of Whitewater. - PUB DATE: 12/14/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WISC-TV CBS/MyNetworkTV 3 Madison
Residents of a Madison duplex were left without a home for a night after carbon monoxide levels in their basement reached almost fatal levels.
The Madison Fire Department says people living on the 600 block of North St. on the city’s near east side called in describing symptoms typical with carbon monoxide exposure. - PUB DATE: 12/13/2023 3:19:00 PM - SOURCE: WMTV NBC/CW 15 Madison
VIDEO/PHOTOS: Clothes are an important essential that all people need. That’s why Arbor Vitae and Minocqua firefighters are gathering winter clothes for their coat drive. The drive helps supply winter clothes to surrounding schools and the Lakeland food pantry.
Operation Santa has been donating clothes for 19 years in the Lakeland area. - PUB DATE: 12/13/2023 2:45:00 AM - SOURCE: WJFW-TV NBC 12 Rhinelander
VIDEOS/PHOTOS: The Boom Bay Volunteer Fire Department is showing off its newest set of wheels.
No matter if it's on land, ice or in water, the Boom Bay Volunteer Fire Department's new SHERP vehicle is up for the task.
The amphibious vehicle will help Boom Bay with life-threatening events like ice rescues on the Wolf River, Lake Poygan and Lake Winneconne. - PUB DATE: 12/13/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WLUK-TV FOX 11 Green Bay
PHOTOS: North Shore firefighters were dispatched on Tuesday morning, Dec. 12 to a fire at an apartment building on W. Dean Road near N. Teutonia Avenue in Brown Deer.
The first firefighters on the scene found a fire in a second-floor apartment of an approximate 48-unit apartment complex.
The building was evacuated – and the fire was brought under control in about forty minutes. - PUB DATE: 12/12/2023 3:32:46 PM - SOURCE: WITI-TV FOX 6 Milwaukee
VIDEO: A total of 13 people have been displaced by a fire on Madison's east side early Tuesday morning.
Two blocks of Milwaukee Street were closed as crews responded to the residential fire.
The call came in just after 3 a.m., according to Dane County dispatch.
News 3 Now's crew reported the building is residential and appears to be a duplex. - PUB DATE: 12/12/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WISC-TV CBS/MyNetworkTV 3 Madison
VIDEO: The old fire station #5 on Denton St. in La Crosse is getting a part put back up on the building that hasn't been there in over 60 years.The current owner of the property is installing a brand new tower on top of the building.
Back 1895, when the building was used as fire station, the tower is where firefighters used to sit during the day and watch for smoke. - PUB DATE: 12/11/2023 11:34:00 PM - SOURCE: WXOW-TV ABC 19 La Crosse
VIDEO: The Eau Claire Fire Department recently made a historical discovery that is giving insight into firefighters' jobs from more than a century ago.
The department found old documents two weeks ago when they were cleaning out Fire Station 10. The paperwork included former call logs, investigation reports and photos from the 1900's. - PUB DATE: 12/11/2023 7:45:00 PM - SOURCE: WQOW-TV ABC 18 Eau Claire
VIDEO: Many communities rely on their local volunteer fire departments for emergencies. However, staffing those departments can be extremely challenging.
The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services has created a grant funding of $150,000 for eligible applicants that will help youth firefighter training programs throughout the state. - PUB DATE: 12/11/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WJFW-TV NBC 12 Rhinelander
Firefighters responded to a person who fell through the ice 100 yards from the shore of Beaver Dam Lake on Friday.
Around 4:30 p.m., Beaver Dam Fire Department units were dispatched to the lake after a bystander saw someone fall through the ice.
A firefighter wearing an ice rescue suit made their way onto the ice first and was able to reach the individual. - PUB DATE: 12/10/2023 9:02:00 PM - SOURCE: WAOW-TV ABC 9 Wausau
