Pleasant Prairie Fire & Rescue Department
Personnel
The Village of Pleasant Prairie Fire & Rescue Department is described as a combination
department that utilizes full-time, part-time, and Paid-on-Call members, along
with high school and fire science college interns, working together to provide
high quality service to our community. The term "member" is commonly used throughout
the American Fire Service to describe fire and rescue personnel as belonging
to a team.
Full-Time Firemedics
The Fire & Rescue Department has 15 full-time members. All 15 full-time
personnel are cross-trained as both firefighter and paramedic, hence the title:
Firemedic. Within the full-time personnel are the positions of Chief of Fire & Rescue,
Assistant Chief, four (4) Lieutenants and nine (9) Firemedics.
Each full-time Firemedic has received more than 1,200 hours of basic training
either prior to hire or within the first year of becoming a member of the department.
All full-time personnel are trained to the minimum requirement of Wisconsin
certified Firefighter I and II, National Registry of EMT-Basic, and a Wisconsin
certified Paramedic. Many of our full-time personnel have achieved additional
levels of certification.
The Chief and Assistant Chief are assigned to work a typical business week, Monday
through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In addition, both positions are on call
during non-business hours to respond to emergencies as they occur. Fire Lieutenants
and Firemedics are assigned to work a typical firefighter shift of 24 hours.
The shift assignments are arranged to provide 24 hours of coverage every day
of the year.
Paid-on-Call Fire/EMT/Paramedic
Our staff of more than 25 Paid-on-Call firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics closely
resembles volunteer personnel. However our Paid-on-Call (POC) personnel are compensated
for their service using an ascending scale commensurate with the training level
they have achieved. Once selected as a member of the department, POC personnel
contribute the time it takes to become familiar with our operations while
enrolled in certification classes such as Wisconsin Certified Firefighter I and
II, and the Wisconsin Emergency Medical Technician Program.
Full-time, part-time and Paid-on-Call personnel participate in the same hiring
process and training program to assure all personnel meet our qualifications
and expectations. Ultimately, our POC members perform most nearly all of the
tasks performed by the full-time staff associated with fire ground operations,
rescue activities, and medical emergencies, as well as other support services
at the scene of emergency operations. Paid-on-Call firefighters also assist
in non-emergency activities to meet the fire and life safety needs of the community.
Part-Time Personnel
Part-time personnel are used to perform work within the fire stations. Personnel
eligible to work part-time shifts come from within the Paid-on-Call ranks or
in some cases from outside of our department. Personnel working part-time shifts
are trained as paramedics; Motor Pump Operators (MPO) to operate the fire pumpers,
grass, and ladder trucks; or hold both levels of training, MPO and Paramedic.
Part-time personnel perform most of the duties performed by a full-time Firemedic.
College Student (Intern) Live-In Personnel
The College Student Live-In Program began in January 1988 to provide an opportunity
for college students pursuing a degree in Fire Science to experience the life
of a Firemedic. Students live in a shared dorm room in exchange for being assigned
24 hours of duty each week in one of the fire stations. Students provide their
own meals and participate in basic training, as well as the department's continuing
education program. Students who have a goal and remain focused can spend three
(3) years with the department and leave certified as a Wisconsin Firefighter
II, Motor Pump Operator, Nationally Registered EMT, and a Nationally Registered
Paramedic. Most of our successful college students have gone on to full-time
careers within the Fire & Rescue service.
High School (Intern) Program
Working in conjunction with the high schools of the Kenosha Unified School District,
we provide an opportunity for students interested in a firefighting career to
experience the life of a Firemedic. Students participate in station and vehicle
maintenance, fire and rescue continuing education and fire inspection and public
education programs, and can achieve the opportunity to respond on emergency vehicles.
Successful high school student's have become college student interns or members
of the Paid-on-Call staff and have gone on to achieve full-time career status.
