VIDEO: Madison Fire Station #1 held an open house Sunday for potential entry-level firefighter and EMT applicants. Lisa Tatar, who helped organize this event, said "There are constant retirements and constant needs to hire new firefighters." On top of staff attrition, Tatar said the Madison Fire Department will need to find employees for Fire Station #14, which will be opening soon in Madison's southeast neighborhood. - PUB DATE: 10/1/2017 6:01:40 PM - SOURCE: WKOW-TV 27 ABC
VIDEO: Responding to emergencies will be faster than ever for Madison firefighters and paramedics. Off-duty first responders will now be able to provide life-saving care, thanks to an app. When it comes to cardiac emergenies, seconds can mean the difference between life and death. “The longer it takes to get a 911 responder there or somebody doing bystander CPR, the less likely it is the person’s going to recover,” Che Stedman, Asst. - PUB DATE: 10/1/2017 2:33:02 PM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison
The Mosinee Fire District opened their doors for the first time to the community, as a part of their first open house. Fire trucks were out for the kids to see and fire fighters were interacting with community members. Mosinee Fire Chief Doug Jennings said events like this are an important way to reach out to those they serve -- days after saying goodbye to former Mosinee fire fighter Matt Deicher. - PUB DATE: 10/1/2017 12:22:51 PM - SOURCE: WAOW-TV ABC 9-Wausau
A Northern Door fire department has reported unauthorized use of their name as part of a telemarketing scam. A major phone scam plagued Kewaunee County over the summer, but since that time, no further scams have been reported till now. Gibraltar fire chief Jared Anderson says this type of action is completely against the norm of his fire department. - PUB DATE: 10/1/2017 12:01:10 PM - SOURCE: Door County Daily News
As the harvest season begins hitting its peak, an investigation into a fatal explosion and fire at Didion Milling’s corn processing plant has revealed few details about the cause of the disaster. The beginning of October will mark four months since the explosion and fire that killed five employees and injured 11 others, sending victims to hospitals across the region. - PUB DATE: 9/30/2017 7:10:43 PM - SOURCE: Madison
A man turned himself in Thursday morning after intentionally setting a fire in a storage shed on Madison’s east side, according to a release. Firefighters were called around 8:15 a.m. to the former Sentry Foods store in the 4600 block of Cottage Grove Road when witnesses noticed smoke coming from an old salt storage shed, officials said. - PUB DATE: 9/29/2017 7:35:52 AM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison
As the Beloit Fire Department looks to counter staffing cuts and retirements, Beloit's Police and Fire Commission has approved a recruitment plan aimed at bolstering the applicant pool for future firefighters and paramedics.
The plan eliminates the need for college credit for those interested in joining the department, but does not change the requirement potential firefighters earn a Level 1 certification among other qualifications for department staff. - PUB DATE: 9/29/2017 2:08:56 AM - SOURCE: Beloit Daily News
The Fontana Fire Department in Walworth County responded to a call around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday morning that a boat at the public boat launch was on fire. When firefighters arrived the 21-foot boat was engulfed in flames. The boat was a complete loss, but since it was an older boat the total damages are only around $3,000. - PUB DATE: 9/28/2017 3:14:08 PM - SOURCE: WDJT-TV CBS 58 Milwaukee
A building is severely damaged after an early morning fire in Rice Lake. The Rice Lake Fire Department says crews were called to the fire at 508 West Allen Street just after 2:30 a.m. Thursday morning. When they arrived, they saw heavy smoke and fire coming from the rear of the building. 17 firefighters fought the fire for about a half hour before the flames were under control. - PUB DATE: 9/28/2017 6:04:17 AM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News
Responding to community needs and arguments that training for service with volunteer rescue squads and fire departments can lead to future careers for students, Wausaukee School Board has approved a policy change that now allows students to get high school and college credits as well as GPA points for successfully completing EMT, First Responder and Fire and Rescue courses that are sanctioned and sponsored by the district. - PUB DATE: 9/28/2017 2:49:49 AM - SOURCE: Peshtigo Times
As the Holmen Area Fire Department continues to rebuild, its fire chief is advising the Holmen Area Fire District Association Board the department is coming up short on funding. “We are five years behind,” said Holmen Area Fire Department Chief Paul Menches. “The equalized value has climbed, but the department’s finances have gone south. - PUB DATE: 9/28/2017 2:24:02 AM - SOURCE: Onalaska Holmen Courier Life
Gov. Scott Walker has ordered that the U.S. and state flags be flown at half-staff on Thursday, Sept. 28, to honor Matthew Deicher, an emergency medical technician and firefighter who died in the line of duty, according to the Department of Military Affairs. Deicher died on Saturday, Sept. 23, due to injuries and complications he had suffered during an EMT call in 2003. - PUB DATE: 9/28/2017 2:09:12 AM - SOURCE: Spooner Advocate
VIDEO: A large house fire Monday prompted the Town of Beloit Fire Chief to postpone the fall burning season until Oct. 9. Normally, the Town of Beloit is allowed to burn from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30 and during the month of April. Fire Chief Gene Wright decided to delay the start of fall burning after the recent warm weather and dry conditions in the area, as well as a large house fire Monday afternoon that destroyed one home and almost caught another on fire. - PUB DATE: 9/27/2017 3:41:35 PM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison
VIDEO: Eau Claire City Council members approved a plan to construct a larger fire station for one of the department's buildings. Eau Claire Fire Chief Chris Bell said the department is ecstatic to be able to move forward with the larger station. Not only will the larger station help keep some of their equipment from sitting outside, it will also help lessen costs for the future as certain areas in the city expand. - PUB DATE: 9/27/2017 3:17:24 AM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News
Homes were evacuated and utility service was temporarily interrupted for dozens of homes and several businesses after a crew installing a sign post breached a natural gas line in the city Tuesday morning. City of Burlington firefighters were notified at 10:47 a.m. of the situation that occurred at the intersection of Edgewood Drive and Main Street, just east of the Fox River. - PUB DATE: 9/27/2017 2:15:19 AM - SOURCE: Racine Journal Times
VIDEO: Cuts to public safety are raising eyebrows, especially within the Milwaukee Fire Department. The department will end up closing six of its fire stations across the city. The impact to you may be a slower response time in emergencies. "I don't want them to do it. I don't want them to close it down," said Regina King, lives by fire station. - PUB DATE: 9/26/2017 9:12:19 PM - SOURCE: WITI Fox Channel 6
VIDEO: A city is in disbelief after a Wausau firefighter/paramedic is charged with sexual assault while on the job. 33-year-old Clifford Heiser is accused of inappropriately touching a female patient in the back of an ambulance earlier this month. Fire, police and city leaders held a press conference Tuesday afternoon to discuss the allegations. - PUB DATE: 9/26/2017 8:51:25 PM - SOURCE: WAOW-TV ABC 9-Wausau
VIDEO: It's a skill they hope they never have to use, but Tuesday firefighters from the Marshfield area learned how to properly remove victims, in the case of a school bus crash. Using a real bus at Shaw's Wrecking Yard, crews will continue to practice their techniques through Thursday. “It gives the crew a better opportunity, a better understanding of where their access points are, what they have to do to stabilize the bus if it's tippy. - PUB DATE: 9/26/2017 8:48:05 PM - SOURCE: WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau
More than 30 people were displaced by a pair of apartment fires in Green Bay. The first fire, in the basement of an apartment building 2014 Vine St., was called in at 7:44 p.m. Monday, said Green Bay Metro Fire Department Lt. Cody Johnson. "When crews arrived there was heavy smoke coming from the basement," Johnson said. - PUB DATE: 9/26/2017 3:48:30 AM - SOURCE: Green Bay Press-Gazette
It takes a lot to surprise a man who is tasked with being prepared for any contingency. But more than 100 City of New Richmond employees and community members were able to pull off just that on Thursday, Sept. 18, when they threw a surprise retirement ceremony for longtime city emergency government director Chuck Mehls. - PUB DATE: 9/26/2017 3:05:34 AM - SOURCE: New Richmond News
