The Beaver Dam Fire Department is starting to make its promised hires after voters approved a referendum in November. Beaver Dam voters approved a referendum 66 percent to 34 percent to cover six new full-time firefighter/paramedic positions, with a tax impact of $37 on a $100,000 house in the first year. Fire/EMS officials and staffers lobbied for the referendum as a way to keep a growing, aging community safe and stave off department burnout.
A seventh person is also being hired to fill an opening, Fire Chief Alan Mannel said. Three staffers started on Feb. 1 and are in the three-week training program to “show them the Beaver Dam way,” Mannel said. They are about to go out on a shift.
One employee will start Feb. 16. Two people have been made conditional offers and are in the pre-employment testing phase.
The department is evaluating candidates for the last opening.