Land O’ Lakes EMS Adds Helipads

VIDEO: The Land O’ Lakes area is upgrading their emergency response times by building a series of new helipads. The helipads are being constructed in cooperation with LifeLink III which is the air ambulance service which serves the Northwoods. The new helipads will be along County Highway B with one just north of the intersection of County Highway S and County Highway B, and the other just south of the intersection of County Highway B and Palmer Lake Road. Brad Knaack is the Assistant Fire Chief at the Land O’ Lakes Fire Department. He says the helipads will help get people to care facilities faster. He said, “We could save 15 to 20 minutes from this site alone.” Currently helicopters have to meet ambulances at the Land O’ Lakes or Eagle River Airport if they don’t land at an accident scene.
WJFW-TV NBC 12 Rhinelander-Wausau

Heavy rains help put an end to 30-acre Dexter Fire

VIDEO: Firefighters across Wood County spent most of last week battling wildfires and this week's rain was a big relief. The Pittsville Fire Department said they first received word of a fire last Monday and a drone operator they worked with happened to spot it nearby. From there, dozers had to brought in by the DNR because of how dry the ground was with the continued drought. In total, 13 different fire departments were called in to help and Pittsville is all the more grateful. "This particular fire is probably the best example of what partnerships can do," said Pittsville Fire Chief Jerry Minor. "Any fire department that says they can handle everything on their own is certainly not being accurate." It took crews about four days to contain the fire and the rain over the weekend was enough to finally put the blaze out completely.
WAOW-TV ABC 9 Wausau

Wisconsin Rapids first responders train to deal with hazardous material situation

VIDEO: For EMTs, fire departments, and police departments, the best way to learn is to practice. The Wood County Local Planning Committee and the Wisconsin Emergency Management hosted a Hazardous Material Training Exercise at ERCO Worldwide in Port Edwards. The Wisconsin Rapid Fire Chief says it’s not just about blocking the roads and getting to the person at the right time. It’s about chemistry and making sure everyone around them is safe. Once the sirens go off it’s time to figure out the situation and solve it before anything else worse happens. “The scenario today is going to be a truck that loses three cylinders, one is chlorine, one is sulfur dioxide that has been ruptured and they’re going to mitigate that and exercise not only that, but EMS with a victim that has fallen to the gases,” said Wisconsin Rapid Fire Chief Todd Eckes.
WSAW-TV CBS/MyNetworkTV/CW+ 7 Wausau

Crews put out house fire near Cadott, several pets lost

VIDEO: Crews were able to put out a house fire near Cadott Monday, but several family pets were lost. Cadott Fire Chief Rick Sommerfield told News 18 a passerby called in the fire just before noon. The house is located on 270th Street, north of 120th Avenue in the township of Goetz. Sommerfield said no one was home at the time, but several dogs and a cat were lost in the fire. He said the house is likely a total loss between the fire, smoke and water damage. A preliminary investigation suggests the cause was electrical. Crews from Cadott, Cornell, Anson and Boyd responded and were on the scene for a little over three hours.
WQOW-TV ABC 18 Eau Claire

Eau Claire Fire & Rescue looking to hire even more firefighters

VIDEO: Eau Claire Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief Robert Haller is contending with employee turnover. Between the retirements and others leaving the force, Haller said a recently acquired grant should further help with the staffing shortage. This comes as they look to hire 6 new firefighters after Eau Claire voters helped pass a public safety referendum last year. But, the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant from the Department of Homeland Security allows for even more. “And this one we put in for six firefighters at a cost of just over $2 million. This funding will keep us afloat basically for the next three years,” said Deputy Chief Haller. The 12 new hires should keep the number of staff at around 96. Haller said the gran money will help offset some costs from the force being stretched thin.
WEAU-TV NBC 13 Eau Claire

’He was definitely shocked’: Semi-truck driver escapes flames in Verona

VIDEO: A semi-truck driver whose cab burst into flames at a Verona gas station was able to escape the fire even though his driver-side door would not open. Verona Fire Chief Dan Machotka said the Iowa resident's semi-truck had an apparent mechanical issue Friday, so the man drove the truck into a Kwik Trip's lot at 2145 County Road PB. Machotka said the truck stalled and moments later the driver sensed there was a fire. "Tried to get out," Machotka said of the driver. "Unfortunately, his door wouldn't work." Machotka said the driver was able to jump out the passenger window, slightly injuring himself in the process. "He was definitely shocked," Machotka said. "We had an ambulance [crew] take a look at him just to make sure he was all right."
WXOW-TV ABC 19 La Crosse