|
Fire
|
|
| Our Village and StaffingThe Village of Germantown is approximately 16 miles northwest of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in Washington County. The Village occupies 35 square miles and has a population of 18,500. Over the last 10 years, the property value in Germantown has grown by 175 percent, the third largest increase in the Milwaukee Metropolitan area. The Germantown Fire Department has a staff of full time and part time employees covering week days and a paid on call staff to cover nights and weekends. We provide fire prevention and fire protection services, emergency medical services, and public education services. Click on the links above to view each of these services. BackgroundThe Germantown Fire Department was created in 1989, when the Village of Germantown took over the management of the department from the Germantown Fire Company. The Fire Company was staffed entirely by volunteers. These volunteers protected our village from 1907 to 1989. The Germantown Fire Company continues to exist as a social and charitable organization. Many of the past and present Department members are also members of the Germantown Fire Company. In 2001, the Fire Department added a second station, in the industrial park. This station will help support the growing needs of our community into the future. Both the day crew and the POC staff are split between the two stations. Also new at station 2 is the fire training tower. Germantown Fire Department now trains on live fires in the new tower. Other significant additions in 2001 include a new Pierce aerial platform and a new Wheel Coach ambulance. The additional apparatus was long overdue. Day CrewThe village has full time fire and EMS protection from 6 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday. The staff includes the Fire Chief and a firefighter/ EMT Captain, 2 fire inspectors (both are firefighters and EMTs), and 2 part-time firefighter/EMTs. The current chief, Gary Pollpeter, was the first chief hired in 1989. Chief Pollpeter has been with the Fire Department since 1970, when it was still a volunteer organization. In addition to the full time and part time people, any paid on call members who are in the village during the day will respond to calls during this time. Our thanks go out to their employers, who allow them to leave work to protect the village, its citizens, and its guests. Paid on Call (POC)From 6 pm to 6 am, Monday through Friday, and on all weekends and holidays, emergency services are provided by paid on call staff. These members are on call, using a pager to be notified of fire or EMS calls. They are not paid to be on call, but do get paid when they respond to a fire or EMS call. The Paid on Call staff is split into 2 companies, each managed by a deputy chief. Each company is on call every other week, changing on Tuesday night. POC members are responsible for all calls during their "on week". In the event members cannot meet that requirement, they attempt to get coverage from someone from the other company. Last Year's CallsIn the year 2002, the Germantown Fire Department responded to 841 calls. Of these, 592 were for EMS and 242 were for fire/rescue. Calls in 2002 showed a 3% decreased from 2001 calls. This is the first time in six years where the number of calls declined. Otherwise, our calls have risen consistently over the last several years, as we are a growing village. In addition to calls from our own citizens, we respond to calls for mutual aid from our surrounding communities. |