Location: 720 East Blackhawk Avenue
Hours: The Fire Department provides emergency response services to the City of Prairie du Chien 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The non-emergency office hours are Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Contacts: Emergency – 911
Non-emergency – (608) 326-4365
Fax – (608) 326-8182
Email – fire@prairieduchien-wi.gov
Mail: 720 East Blackhawk Avenue, Prairie du Chien, WI 53821
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/Prairie-du-Chien-Fire-Dept-365216703867/
Command Staff
Fire Chief * Tad Beutin
Deputy Fire Chief * Tim Deluhery, Sr.
Assistant Fire Chief * Steve Rickleff
Safety Officer * Bruce “Harry” Remz
Line Officers
Captain Derrick Eastman * Lieutenant Jaaren Riebe * Lieutenant Tim Deluhery, Jr. * Lieutenant Dustin Folsom * Lieutenant Ben Pintz
Fire Fighters
Alejandrom Munoz * Phil Becwar * Sheldon Rodriguez – Black * Heath Smith * Melissa Folsom * Dan Gillitzer *Dan Gillitzer * Joe Johnson * Wayne Koecke * Michael Steiner * Arnold Mezera * John Rickleff * Bob Saddler * Ed Steger * Nicholas Gillitzer * Dan Hackett * Lee Arneson * Krystalia Phillips * Matt Heisz * Michael Anthony
BECOMING A MEMBER
If you are at least 18 years of age, live within 15 minutes of the City, and wish to become a member of the Prairie du Chien Fire Department, you need to complete an application and return it to the Fire Chief. Membership and training requirements will be explained to you as well as when or if there is going to be an opening.
The City of Prairie du Chien was incorporated in 1872, and the Fire Department was created by ordinance in 1873. There were four fire companies, the boundaries of which followed the city wards for the most part. The Phoenix #1 Company, the largest company, served the second and third wards and was reputed to get the best of everything. Company #1 was assisted by the Cataract #2 Company which was made up of all young men and was sometimes called Assistant #2. Aetna #3 Company served the lower town or 1st Ward. The Badger Company #4 served the 4th Ward, which was all on St. Feriole Island at the time, and it was said to have the best esprit de corps.
In 1903, the City Council went from a volunteer to a paid force which reduced the size of the Department to 32 firefighters but that lasted only a year when the department became an all volunteer force again. The Fire Department maintained the four companies until 1930 when they merged to form one City Fire Department.
In 1946, the City created the Police and Fire Commission, a board of five members appointed by the Mayor to serve 5-year terms. The Police and Fire Commission duties are to hire the Fire Chief, Police Chief, and their subordinates and to mediate any disciplinary problems in either department. In 1976, the City hired its first full-time Fire Chief to oversee the operation of the Department and perform all required fire prevention inspections.
Prairie du Chien Fire Department Needs Firefighters!!
The Prairie du Chien Fire Department is a volunteer fire department with a full-time Fire Chief. The firefighters are paid a salary for the year with bonuses added for rank and/or percentages made for training and fire calls. The Prairie du Chien Fire Department is looking for people that have a desire to help keep the City of Prairie du Chien safe and help mitigate emergencies that arise. The Fire Department has openings for people that live within 15 minutes of the fire station. Are you interested? Please read on!!
Volunteer Firefighter Requirements
- Valid Wisconsin Driver License
- High School Diploma
- 18 Years of Age
- Live within 15 minutes of the Prairie du Chien Fire station
- Pass our application process which includes an interview and medical physical
- Pass an employment background check and reference check
- Have ample time to give to provide a very needed service for our community
- Have a sense of dedication and willingness to be part of a professional team
If you make the commitment, meet the above requirements and are hired as a firefighter there are certain educational requirements. They are as follows:
- Entry Level Firefighter Class-60 hours
- Firefighter 1 Certification class-Additional 36 hours with a written and practical Wisconsin State Certification Test
These classes are usually held in the evenings and/or on Saturdays which are provided through Southwest Wisconsin Technical College. These classes are paid for by the Fire Department. As with everything else, things change over time. The same has held true for the fire service. It is becoming increasingly hard to find people willing to take on the challenge of being a volunteer firefighter. BUT our community needs YOU!!
If interested or have any questions about being a volunteer firefighter for the Prairie du Chien Fire Department, please call the Fire Station at 608.326.4365 Monday through Friday from 8:00am-4:30pm. You can also stop by the Fire Station (720 E. Blackhawk Ave.) during the same hours. You can email the Fire Chief at fire@prairieduchien-wi.gov or talk to any firefighter about getting an application.
The Prairie du Chien Fire Department would like to express a huge thank-you to John Yager for giving 55 Years to the PDC Fire Department and Prairie du Chien community. John has given countless volunteer hours to this community. If you see John out and about shake his hand and tell him Thank-You.
John Yager 55 years of service 
The Prairie du Chien Fire Department recently held its annual awards banquet at The Barn. This years’ award recipients are:
Community Partner Nick Strandlie, Sound Off Signal 
Community Partner, Roger Standorf with MRT Tires.
Fires
According to Ready.gov, a fire can go from a hazard to life-threatening in a matter of minutes. If a fire starts while you’re asleep, you need to get out fast.
A full quarter of home fire deaths are caused by fires that started in the bedroom, according to the National Fire Protection Association:
Here’s how to fireproof your bedroom:
1. Practice fire drills.
Despite there being over a million residential fires each year, only a third of American households have a fire escape plan. Schedule a twice-yearly fire drill, and make one of those at night. This way you and your family are truly prepared.
With a fire, every second counts, so practice your escape plan quickly. In case smoke makes it dark, practice with your eyes closed or a bandana over your head to see if you can feel your way out.
If a fire starts outside your bedroom, practice crawling low to the ground toward the door. Practice touching the door knob before opening it. If it’s hot to touch, go to your other route and practice unrolling your safety escape ladders. Confirm that you can easily open your bedroom window.
Practice the stop, drop, and roll in case you catch on fire.
2. Regularly maintain smoke alarms.
Keep a smoke alarm in every room of your house, including your bedroom. Smoke alarms reduce your risk of dying by fire by half.
Choose smoke alarms with sealed-in 10-year lithium battery. If your house is currently using hard-wire smoke alarms, replace them with battery-powered models or install battery-powered models as backups.
Each month, test the alarm and clear it of dust. Every year, replace the batteries. Every 10 years, replace the smoke alarm unit.
Get a separate carbon monoxide alarm and place one outside your bedroom so you’ll wake up if it starts to beep.
3. Keep a fire extinguisher handy.
Most people keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen for kitchen fires, but that’s not helpful if a fire occurs upstairs or in their bedroom.
Keep a fire extinguisher in your bedroom or closeby. Buy a fire extinguisher with an ABC rating. This means they are able to extinguish fires caused by the widest variety of items, flammable liquids, and electronic equipment.
Every year, confirm that the gauge reads 100% full, and replace it if not. Train yourself on how to use a fire extinguisher and rehearse the motions during your fire escape plan (but don’t actually squeeze it).
4. Remove obvious fire hazards.
Do not light candles in your bedroom. Avoid using space heaters in the bedroom. Never smoke in your bedroom.
If you have a rug in your bedroom, avoid running electrical cords under it. Regularly check that all of the electronics in your bedroom are not showing frays or damage to the wires, and if so, replace them immediately.
If you live in an older home, hire a professional to come take a look at your wiring and replace anything that’s old.
_____________________________________________________
HELPFUL LINKS
Wisconsin Fire Inspectors Association – Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – Wisconsin Department of Commerce –
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources – National Fire Protection Association – Consumer Product Safety Commission