Supporting Future Firefighters

At NWTC, the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) presented a ceremonial check for $24,525 to representatives from the Kewaunee County Junior Firefighter Program, one of four recent winners of a DSPS Youth Firefighter Training grant.

"Our department's work is almost entirely focused on safety and protecting Wisconsin citizens, from regulating our state's licensed professionals to reviewing building plans. But the work to support the state fire service is directly related to safety because local fire departments are the backbone of public safety in Wisconsin communities," DSPS Secretary Dan Hereth said before presenting the check. "Gov. Evers is committed to bolstering all sections of our state's workforce, and we're proud to play a small part, through these grants, in helping attract the next generation of firefighters."

The grant will help pay for firefighting equipment for students in the program, which will be taught by Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) instructors at the college's Public Safety Training Center in Green Bay. The youth firefighters will be students from four area school districts: Luxemburg-Casco, Kewaunee, Denmark, and Algoma. In addition, eight local fire departments will be partnering in this training program: Algoma, Denmark, Kewaunee, Town of Carlton, Tisch Mills, Casco, Luxemburg, and New Franken.

"This is an outstanding example of some excellent partnerships that we have. To have that many students and departments working together to prepare a future workforce is incredible," said Dr. Kathryn Rogalski, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Workforce Development at NWTC. "To our fire chiefs here today, we understand the need that you have, and we are grateful to be your training partner."

Participating schools will recruit interested students for the program, and students will then take NWTC's Entry Level Firefighter course. Once the Entry Level course is complete, students can begin limited participation in fire calls with one of the departments.

The event took place took place at the NWTC Public Safety Training Center. Attendees included some students intending to take part in the program starting in January, including Charley from Luxemburg-Casco High School.

"One of my mom's friends took a forest fire management type class and she was telling stories about it. It sparked my curiosity and I've been interested since," she explained, adding that she is thinking, long-term, of working or volunteering in a local fire department.

"We're thankful for the opportunity that students get to have," said Luxemburg-Casco Schools Director of Student Services, Mike Snowberry, who wrote the grant application. "As you know, the age is going up in our fire departments, so we're hopeful with 17- and 18-year-olds we can bring that number down and ensure safety and support in our communities for the future."

Other winners in this third round of DSPS Youth Firefighter Training Grants include Madison Area Technical College, Northcentral Technical College, and Fox Valley Technical College.