08/14/2026
Posted years ago, but worth posting again.
IT’S SO MUCH MORE
For many, when they hear “fire department” they have a mental picture of firefighters battling a blaze and that is a very important part of what they do. However, belonging to a volunteer fire department is so much more.
Wisconsin requires a 96+ hour course and passing the state exam to be considered a Firefighter 1. In addition, if the individual also wants to be an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) they must pass an additional 70 hours and obtain a state license. That is just the beginning. Once a month, members attend skills training to be sure they are prepared for any emergency.
Volunteer firefighters are members of your community. They are the shop owner, the mechanic, the carpenter, the electrician or the farmer that you see every day as you go about your business. But when needed, they answer the call. They leave their child’s basketball game, they get up from the holiday dinner and they miss church, because they respond to the pager 24/7 365.
They are there at a car accident. They help an elderly individual who has fallen and the spouse cannot help them up. They comfort a child who is ill and scared of the ambulance. They take the fire truck to school and talk about fire prevention. They will be called out in severe weather to serve as storm spotters. They control traffic for parades and running events. They help patrol streets so kids can have a safe Halloween.
Members of a volunteer fire department are a vital and integral part of your community. They owe a great debt of gratitude to their families because they share that individual with the community and the community owes them a debt of gratitude for the sacrifices they make to keep everyone safe.
