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Wisconsin Fire News

Janesville Fire Department receives improved insurance rating

The Janesville Fire Department’s improved insurance rating could draw businesses to town and make residents feel safer, Fire Chief Ernie Rhodes said. The national Insurance Services Office last week bumped Janesville’s fire services rating from Class 3 to Class 2, which Rhodes said is a significant change.
- PUB DATE: 10/4/2019 2:07:41 AM - SOURCE: Janesville Gazette

Fallen Sun Prairie Fire Capt. Cory Barr to be honored at national ceremony in Maryland

This weekend, thousands will attend the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Fallen Sun Prairie Fire Capt. Cory Barr will be one of the 119 recognized in a ceremony on Sunday. Capt. Barr’s widow, Abby Barr, their twin daughters, family, Sun Prairie Fire Chief Christopher Garrison and more will attend.
- PUB DATE: 10/3/2019 4:46:35 PM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

Bomb squad called to scene of fire at Schofield apartment complex

The Marathon-Oneida County Sheriff Bomb Squad is on the scene at an apartment complex where firefighters put out a fire in a garage earlier Thursday morning. An Everest Metro police officer told the Wausau Daily Herald that he could not release any information about the incident, but added that the Wausau Police Department, which is investigating a shooting at Pine Grove Cemetery, will be releasing further information about the fire and response by the bomb squad.
- PUB DATE: 10/3/2019 9:57:41 AM - SOURCE: Wausau Daily Herald

Car bursts into flames outside Little Chute home

A car burst into flames outside a home in Little Chute Thursday morning. Fox Valley Metro Police say the vehicle was "fully engulfed in flames" when they arrived on scene. Little Chute firefighters put out the fire before it could spread to nearby homes or cars. Fox Valley Metro Police say no one was hurt.
- PUB DATE: 10/3/2019 7:37:29 AM - SOURCE: WBAY-TV ABC 2 Green Bay

LaCrosse: Non-certified detectors a cause for concern

Timm Holt makes sure his house is safe and secure. "What I have in my home I have three floors and they all interact with each other," Holt said. But having working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms doesn't necessarily mean you're safe. Sites including Amazon have been selling these alarms not tested and certified by nationally recognized testing centers.
- PUB DATE: 10/2/2019 5:01:44 PM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

Union warns town of Brookfield of fire department staffing shortages

On the heels of news surrounding staffing issues at the Menomonee Falls, Hales Corners and North Shore fire departments, another municipality is facing similar issues. The international Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 4724 posted on Facebook on Sept. 28 alleging ongoing staffing problems at the town of Brookfield Fire Department.
- PUB DATE: 10/2/2019 2:25:58 PM - SOURCE: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Sun Prairie Fire Department accepts $470,000 grant to hire more firefighters

The Sun Prairie Fire Department has accepted a grant of about $470,000.00, which it will use to hire five additional firefighters next year. Sun Prairie Fire Chief Christopher Garrison shared the news with state leaders and other emergency responders on Wednesday. Gov. Tony Evers, Department of Safety and Professional Services Secretary-Designee Dawn Crim, Sen.
- PUB DATE: 10/2/2019 1:35:31 PM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

Firefighters respond to gas leak in Belleville

Firefighters responded to a gas leak in Belleville Tuesday night. According to Dane County dispatch, We Energies called at 10:04 p.m. to report a gas main break underground at the intersection of River Street and 3rd Avenue. Officials said an uprooted tree caused the leak as storms started to move through the area at around 9 p.
- PUB DATE: 10/1/2019 9:44:00 PM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

Four displaced after Janesville fire

Four people are displaced after a fire in Janesville. According to the Janesville Fire Department, firefighters were dispatched to a single-family home on the 200 block of Rutledge Avenue around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Initial dispatch information reported a clothes dryer on fire in the basement of the residence.
- PUB DATE: 10/1/2019 8:11:06 PM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

$9,500 approved to study Beaver Dam fire station

After much talk, the Beaver Dam Fire Department is now officially moving forward with a study that will look at staffing needs and a possible second fire station on the north side. The city’s police and fire commission approved spending $9,500 to have a firm conduct the study, linking up with a study underway for Dodge County to look at its needs in an era of growing concern about the future of emergency services in the area.
- PUB DATE: 10/1/2019 4:59:36 PM - SOURCE: Daily Citizen

'Credible bomb threat' outside Superior Fire Hall shuts down Tower Avenue

A device found outside the Superior Fire Department's new headquarters has shut down Tower Avenue. Superior Fire Chief Scott Gordon confirmed the threat to the News Tribune, but said the department was safe inside its building at 3025 Tower Ave. Nearby Tower Avenue has been shut down out of precaution and the device and area have been "isolated," Gordon said.
- PUB DATE: 10/1/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Duluth News Tribune

Retiring Verona Chief considers fire department transformed

Eight years ago, the Verona Joint Fire District had a part-time chief, four full-time firefighters and a 35-year-old fire station with no room to put up interns or volunteers overnight. If there was a call in the evening or on the weekends, people would drive to the station, wait for a four-person crew to arrive, get into their gear, then start heading to the incident, all of which could take 10 to 20 minutes.
- PUB DATE: 10/1/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: ConnectVerona.com

Madison: Program targets future firefighters amidst recruitment challenges

A program bringing together fire departments, high schools, and Madison College is working to target future firefighters, as departments across the country face challenges in recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters. The program, called Start College Now, brings together area high schools and fire departments with Madison College to provide training using firefighting equipment to certify students in firefighting, as well as get them college credits.
- PUB DATE: 9/30/2019 5:36:31 PM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

Menomonie apartment fire leaves several residents displaced

Several people are without a home after a fire at a local apartment complex, according to firefighters, 12 units are damaged. A building at the Northern Meadows apartment complex in Menomonie went up in flames Sunday afternoon. Firefighters say no one was hurt and Menomonie Fire Chief, Jack Baus, credits a bystander with helping to get everyone out safely.
- PUB DATE: 9/30/2019 5:00:55 PM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News

Fire destroys barn at Biadasz Farms in Portage County

A barn on the Biadasz family farm in the Town of Buena Vista is a total loss after hay caught fire and spread through the building Monday morning. Firefighters from nine fire departments responded to the fire off County Road EE, just south of County Road D in Portage County. "We're all working together and it takes us all to work on a big fire like this, especially with the hot conditions," Village of Plover Fire Chief Mark Deaver said.
- PUB DATE: 9/30/2019 1:42:54 PM - SOURCE: WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau

False alarm for fire at Uncle Mike's Bake Shoppe

The fire at Uncle Mike’s Bake Shoppe in De Pere residents called in Friday night, turned out to be a false alarm. The bakery posted on their Facebook saying there was no damage to the building and no one was inside. An owner from the bakery also posted a video explaining how an overheated dishwasher caused the commotion.
- PUB DATE: 9/28/2019 6:43:49 PM - SOURCE: WFRV-TV and WJMN-TV Green Bay

De Pere fire station holds community open house

One local fire department opened their station doors to the community on Sunday. The De Pere Fire Department held their annual Open House at Fire Station #1 located at 400 Lewis St. from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors were able to come hang out with Sparky the dog. In addition, children of all ages were able to explore the “Safety Town” interactive trailer in conjunction with the the station’s health department.
- PUB DATE: 9/28/2019 4:38:29 PM - SOURCE: WFRV-TV and WJMN-TV Green Bay

'Thank you for your service': Woman delivers handmade hearts to Wisconsin first responders

Donna Opperman is delivering homemade hearts and stars to police, fire and EMS departments across Wisconsin to show appreciation for first responders. "To honor 9/11 and 911. We will never forget. These are not very pretty stars or hearts. A little frayed around the edges, like the USA right now. Like the USA we will bend a little, but we will not break," Opperman wrote in a letter she delivers with the gifts.
- PUB DATE: 9/27/2019 9:00:53 PM - SOURCE: WMSN-TV Fox 47 Madison

Green Bay: Second year medical students learn to be firefighters for a day

Medical students got out of the clinic and got a taste of what it's like to be a first responder. Second year medical students at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Green Bay Campus, learned how firefighters and paramedics treat patients in the field before they get to the hospital. Members of the De Pere and Howard fire departments showed the students how to rescue a patient from a burning building and how to free someone stuck inside a car.
- PUB DATE: 9/27/2019 7:37:27 PM - SOURCE: WBAY-TV ABC 2 Green Bay

Tichigan Fire Co. addresses concerns after Town of Waterford cancels fire contract with village

Tichigan Volunteer Fire Co. officials said Tuesday that the company is ready to take on the challenge of picking up coverage of the entire Town of Waterford when the current fire and emergency medical services contract between the town and Village of Waterford expires at the end of this year. In a more than hour-long interview with The Journal Times, Assistant Fire Chief Bill Miller and EMS Lt.
- PUB DATE: 9/27/2019 4:49:52 AM - SOURCE: Racine Journal Times

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