08/27/2026
We have some exciting news to share! The Town of Wi******er Fire & EMS has been selected as one of 150 volunteer fire departments nationwide to receive a $10,000 grant through the State Farm® Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program in collaboration with the National Volunteer Fire Council.
With this grant, the Town of Wi******er Fire & EMS will be purchasing Turnout gear for firefighters, Thermal Imaging Camera and charger for truck, Milwaukee Scene Lighting Tower, and M-18 batteries and chargers for upgraded fire scene tools.
“We are still a relatively young fire department, and we have many needs,” explains Chief Tim Kempen. “We have a modest budget that we work within, and we take seriously being good stewards of the resources we are provided. We also rely heavily on organizations and community members who financially support our department and help us purchase equipment that falls outside of our regular operating budget.
“Being selected for grants like the State Farm Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program provides much-needed budget relief and helps us put important equipment in the hands of our firefighters and first responders. Having the right equipment and tools is essential to keeping them safe and effective on incident scenes."
Thank you, State Farm and NVFC, for supporting the people who show up when our community needs them. Thank you to our local State Farm Agent Katie Coppersmith for her help as well.
Picture left to right: Chief Tim Kempen, State Farm Agent Katie Coppersmith, and Assistant Chief Jeremy Jesse.