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Wisconsin Fire News

Extinguisher saves Gibraltar hotel room

A fire inside a vacant hotel room in the Town of Gibraltar earlier this week is giving you more of a reason to keep an extinguisher nearby in your home or business. Gibraltar Fire and Rescue shared the details of a Tuesday evening fire on Wednesday after having to cut their monthly Mid-Door training session short.
- PUB DATE: 9/23/2021 5:43:27 AM - SOURCE: Door County Daily News

Sun Prairie emergency services chiefs welcome NextGen 911 announcement

All three Sun Prairie emergency services chiefs welcomed the recent announcement that Next Generation 911 has arrived in Wisconsin, saying in a joint statement it is an exciting opportunity to improve emergency communications — especially in rural areas of the state. The Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs, Office of Emergency Communications has selected AT&T to implement AT&T ESInet, including Next Generation 911 (NextGen 911) call routing and emergency call statistic reporting, to improve emergency communications across the state.
- PUB DATE: 9/23/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Sun Prairie Star

State Representative seeking nominations for 35th Assembly District’s First Responder of the Year Award

State Representative Calvin Callahan (R-Tomahawk) announced on Thursday, Sept. 23 that his office is seeking nominations for the 35th Assembly District’s 2021 First Responder of the Year Award. The 35th Assembly District includes all of Lincoln County and portions of Langlade, Marathon, Oneida, and Shawano Counties.
- PUB DATE: 9/23/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Tomahawk Leader

7 Things to Know About Wisconsin’s Peshtigo Fire of 1871

Wisconsin inferno of 150 years ago remains America’s deadliest. While coverage of wildfires in the American West dominates 2021 news coverage, most people don’t know that the deadliest wildfire in the nation’s history occurred 150 years ago along the shores of Lake Michigan, right here in Wisconsin. On Oct.
- PUB DATE: 9/22/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Up North News

Old La Crosse Fire Station No. 5 climbs ladder to State Register of Historic Places

PHOTOS: La Crosse Fire Station No. 5 has another claim to fame, in addition to being the last station in the city to use horse brigades: It’s now listed on the State Register of Historic Places. The Wisconsin Historical Society, which bestowed the distinction on the station last month, cements the building’s heritage as the last surviving firehouse in the city, although it’s no longer used as a fire station.
- PUB DATE: 9/21/2021 4:37:39 PM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

1 person dead, 1 injured after Marathon County crash

One person is dead and another is injured after a crash Monday, in a post on the Marathon County Sheriff's Facebook. The post said it happened around 8:15 p.m. in the Town of Marathon. Officials said they were called to the intersection of County Road N and County Road B. According to the sheriff's department, one person was dead when deputies got on scene and another person was taken to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
- PUB DATE: 9/21/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WAOW-TV ABC 9 Wausau

Struck gas line sends La Crosse emergency crews to 13th and Jackson

A diverse round of calls the past four days for the La Crosse Fire Department. The traditional, on Friday — a fire. After that, firefighters had to deal with a bit of everything, including a gas line that was struck Monday, sending La Crosse emergency crews to the scene. Around 11:15 a.m., the department was dispatched to the 13th and Jackson street area, where a two-inch gas line had been hit by a worker using a hydraulic auger.
- PUB DATE: 9/21/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WIZM-AM 1410 La Crosse

James Ponkauskas selected as Janesville Fire Chief

The deputy Janesville Fire chief who has filled-in as interim chief twice in the last five years is official appointed to the position of fire chief. Fire Chief James Ponkauskas joined the Janesville Fire Department in 1994 as a Firefighter/Paramedic. During his service with JFD, he has held the positions of Paramedic, Motor Pump Operator, Lieutenant, Acting Captain, Shift Commander, and Deputy Fire Chief.
- PUB DATE: 9/20/2021 1:39:08 PM - SOURCE: WCLO-AM 1230 Janesville

La Crosse emergency responders tend to bicyclist injured in bluff trail fall

A bicyclist needed to be rescued Sunday, after getting injured falling from a bluff trail in La Crosse. Emergency crews got to the cyclist around 1:45 p.m., when the La Crosse Fire Department and a Tri-State Ambulance crews provided medical care, according to a statement. The La Crosse F.D. Urban Search and Rescue team helped get them off the bluff.
- PUB DATE: 9/20/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WIZM-AM 1410 La Crosse

Residents alert De Pere business manager of fire under electrical panel, help prevent further damage

Thanks to two residents an electrical fire in a De Pere four-story business was quickly detected and extinguished before causing damage and harm to the building and those inside. According to the De Pere Fire-Rescue Department, on Sunday at around 3:10 p.m., crews responded to the 200 block James Street in the City of De Pere for a report of a building fire.
- PUB DATE: 9/19/2021 4:00:29 PM - SOURCE: WFRV-TV CBS 5 Green Bay

Passengers, dog rescued after boats capsize on La Crosse River

The La Crosse Fire Department helped rescue five canoeists Saturday night in the La Crosse River near Red Cloud Park, according to a news release from the fire department. Fire crews were dispatched to the scene at about 7:52 p.m. to a report of people stranded in a canoe. Crews discovered five people stuck on a tree in the water.
- PUB DATE: 9/18/2021 10:16:48 PM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

Milwaukee firefighters help Komen Wisconsin fight breast cancer

Saving lives is part of the job description for Milwaukee firefighters, which, by any definition, makes them heroes. But this week, we're meeting a group of firefighters who go above and beyond the call of duty. On their off days, they help Komen Wisconsin fight breast cancer. Of course when the alarm sounds, these firefighters spring into action, heading out wherever duty calls, but that is just part of the job.
- PUB DATE: 9/17/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WDJT-TV CBS 58 Milwaukee

Retired Marinette fire chief dies at 62

A longtime firefighter and retired fire chief in Marinette County has died. Chief Joseph “Joe” E. Giver died Sunday, Sept. 12 at the age of 62. Chief Giver was born in downstate Niles, Mich., but graduated from high school at the Wisconsin Academy in Columbus, Wis. After graduation, Chief Giver moved to Hinsdale, Ill.
- PUB DATE: 9/17/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WLUC-TV NBC/FOX 6 Marquette

Wisconsin Rapids Fire Chief to retire

After 30 years with the city, Wisconsin Rapids Fire Chief Scott Young will retire this fall. Young was born and raised in Madison, where is also obtained his associates degree in fire protection technology. “I obtained required/numerous certifications while working on various departments. While employed at the WRFD I obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Columbian Southern University,” Young recalled.
- PUB DATE: 9/17/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Wisconsin Rapids City Times

Marquette County woman who lost husband to suicide raises awareness about mental health for first responders

The job of first responders is to take care of others but when it comes to mental health, taking care of themselves may not always be top of mind. A Marquette County woman is raising awareness about suicide prevention after losing her husband to suicide. Dian Pinney and her husband Mathew spend 30 years together.
- PUB DATE: 9/15/2021 4:49:38 PM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

Multiple agenices respond to Deerfield farm fire

Multiple agencies are responding to a fire on a farm in the Township of Deerfield Wednesday afternoon. Dane Co. Dispatch said the call came in around 3:30 p.m. about a fire on the 300 block of Heiman Lane. Deerfield, Cambridge, Stoughton, Marhsall, Cottage Grove and Lake Mills Fire Departments are currently responding to the scene.
- PUB DATE: 9/15/2021 3:50:16 PM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

Tactical Emergency Medic added to Neenah SWAT team to assist with critical care

In 2019, the Neenah Police Department added Tactical Emergency support to its SWAT unit, to provide medical care during “high-risk” operations. “I’m the lead TEMS Medic with the Neenah SWAT team,” explains Mike Novy, Neenah-Menasha Firefighter. Novy has been with the unit since the launch and has been with the Fire Department for 13 years.
- PUB DATE: 9/15/2021 2:38:11 PM - SOURCE: WFRV-TV CBS 5 Green Bay

Watertown fire/EMS concerns mirror others'

A series of stories presented recently in the Daily Times has addressed the challenges of operating fire and EMS services in today’s complex world, with area leaders in firefighting saying it is becoming increasingly difficult to find staff members to conduct their business. Watertown Fire Chief Kraig Biefeld spoke recently about the demands placed on the city’s fire department in 2021, saying one of the things that worries him most is simply being able to recruit and retain staff members qualified to respond to emergency calls.
- PUB DATE: 9/15/2021 3:58:04 AM - SOURCE: Watertown Daily Times

Two killed after car catches fire in crash with disabled semi in Sparta

Two people died Monday night when a driver crashed their vehicle into the rear of a semi-truck that was disabled on the shoulder of I-90. Wisconsin State Patrol authorities said the crash happened around 10 p.m. near mile marker 26.5 near Sparta. According to an incident report, the disabled semi-truck was parked on the right shoulder of the interstate when a Subaru Outback with no lights on crashed into the rear of the truck.
- PUB DATE: 9/15/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WISC-TV CBS 3 Madison

Emergency responders deal with series of wrecks in Madison

Madison firefighters and medical personnel responded to a string of wrecks Monday evening spread across several Milwaukee Street intersections. According to the Madison Fire Dept., when the first emergency responder responding to calls about the crashes shortly before 8 p.m. turned off of Hwy. 51 and onto Milwaukee Street, they spotted a pickup truck.
- PUB DATE: 9/14/2021 3:41:28 PM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

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