Sussex Fire Department

01/06/2026

🚒 2025 Call Volume Overview – Sussex Fire Department 🚑

In 2025, the members of the Sussex Fire Department responded to a wide range of emergencies while continuing our mission of protecting life, property, and our community.

📊 2025 Calls for Service: 1,372
📈 2024 Calls for Service: 1,206

That’s an increase of 166 calls, highlighting the continued growth in service demand within our community.

📊 2025 Run Breakdown:

🚑 EMS / Medical Calls: 980

🧯 Fire Calls: 30

🔥 Flammable Gas or Liquid Incidents: 30

🛠️ Service Calls: 142

👍 Good Intent Calls: 94

🚨 False Alarms / False Calls: 94

💥 Overpressure / Explosion / Overheat Incidents: 2

This data reinforces the growing need for emergency medical services and the diverse range of incidents our firefighters and paramedics respond to every day.

Thank you to our members for their dedication and professionalism, and thank you to our community for your continued support. 💙👨‍🚒👩‍🚒

12/24/2025

🎄🔥 Merry Christmas from the Sussex Fire Department! 🔥🎄

As we celebrate this holiday season, we want to wish our community a Merry Christmas filled with warmth, joy, and safety. Thank you for your continued support throughout the year. Our dedicated members are proud to serve and protect—today and every day.

Please remember to celebrate safely, and know that we are always here if you need us.
From our fire family to yours, have a safe, happy, and healthy Christmas! 🎅🚒

12/17/2025

🎄🔥 Holiday Fire Safety Reminder 🔥🎄
From the Sussex Fire Department

The holidays are a time for celebration—help keep them safe by following these fire safety tips:

✅ Water your Christmas tree daily
✅ Keep candles 12 inches from anything that can burn
✅ Turn off holiday lights before bed or leaving home
✅ Stay in the kitchen while cooking
✅ Keep space heaters 3 feet from combustibles
✅ Test your smoke alarms regularly

🚒 If a fire occurs, get out and call 911 immediately.

Let’s keep the holidays merry, bright, and fire-safe! 🎅✨

11/27/2025

🦃 Happy Thanksgiving from the Sussex Fire Department! 🍁

From our firehouse family to yours, we wish everyone in the Village of Sussex a safe, warm, and enjoyable holiday. As you gather with family and friends, please keep fire safety in mind—especially when cooking or using seasonal decorations.

We are grateful for the continued support of our community and the privilege of serving you every day.

Have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving!

11/25/2025

Happy week of Thanksgiving from SFD!!!! While you are preparing for Thanksgiving, just a few reminders when you are cooking…. particularly when you are deep frying something.

PREPARING:
1. FRY OUTDOORS: Always use the fryer outside, at least 10 feet away from any structure, like a garage or wooden deck. Fry OUTSIDE

2. CHOOSE A FLAT SURFACE: Set up the fryer on a flat, level surface to prevent tipping.

3. MAKE SURE IT’S DRY: The turkey must be completely thawed and dry. Any water or ice can cause a dangerous oil splatter or explosion when it hits the hot oil.

4. DON’T OVERFILL: Overfilling the pot with oil is a leading cause of fryer fires. Use a turkey to measure the correct oil level before heating.

5. USE PROPER OIL: Peanut oil is often recommended because it has a higher smoke point than vegetable oil, making it safer for deep frying.

WHILE COOKING/FRYING
1. TURN OFF THE BURNER: Always turn the burner off before slowly and carefully lowering the turkey into the hot oil.

2. WEAR GEAR: Wear long oven mitts or insulated gloves and safety goggles to protect against burns and splatters.

3. NEVER LEAVE UNATTENDED: Do not leave the fryer unattended at any time, as many units lack thermostats and oil can continue to heat to dangerous levels.

4. KEEP SAFE DISTANCE : Ensure children and pets stay far away from the fryer area, even after use, as the oil can remain dangerously hot for hours.

5. MONITOR TEMPERATURE : Pay close attention to the oil temperature. If the oil begins to smoke, turn off the gas.

6. HAVE PROPER EXTINGUISHER NEAR: Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby and know how to use it. Never use water to extinguish a grease fire.

7. STAY SOBER: Avoid alcohol while frying, as it can impair judgment and lead to accidents.

11/20/2025

❄️ Winter Weather Awareness Week ❄️
As we head into the winter season, the Sussex Fire Department wants to remind our community to stay safe, stay prepared, and stay informed.

Now is the time to:
🔥 Check your heating equipment — Have furnaces, fireplaces, and space heaters inspected and cleaned. Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from heat sources.
🚗 Prepare your vehicle — Carry an emergency kit, check tire tread, ensure your battery is in good condition, and keep your fuel tank at least half full.
🔌 Use generators safely — Never operate a generator indoors or in a garage. Place them outside, away from windows and vents.
🧯 Test smoke & CO alarms — Working alarms save lives, especially during months when homes are sealed tight and heating systems run continuously.
📱 Stay informed — Monitor weather alerts and travel advisories before heading out.

Winter storms can develop quickly. Taking simple steps now can prevent emergencies later. The Sussex Fire Department is here for you all winter long—let’s work together to keep our community safe.

Stay warm, stay safe, Sussex! ❄️🚒

11/14/2025

Starting the week of November 10th, Waukesha County Communications will begin using Aurelian, an AI-assisted call-handling solution that helps route non-emergency calls for service. This system allows dispatch centers to respond faster to real emergencies while efficiently managing routine inquiries.

❗️Big things are happening at Waukesha County Communications!

Starting the week of 11/10, we will begin using Aurelian, an AI-assisted call handling solution that helps route non-emergency calls for service.

Why are we using Aurelian?

Our 911 telecommunicators handle everything from barking dogs to parking questions, calls that can delay life-saving emergency responses. Aurelian helps by:

• Reducing administrative call volume so our dispatchers can focus on critical incidents.

• Speeding up call processing for greater efficiency .

• Offering features like language translation, transcription, and location validation.

How it works:

Ava, the Aurelian chatbot, follows custom routes to gather info from non-emergency callers. It summarizes the call and alerts dispatchers via a dashboard. Emergency calls are always routed directly to a live dispatcher.

This new technology is a step forward in how we serve our community. Aurelian will help us manage incoming calls more efficiently, ensuring that every caller gets the help they need as quickly as possible.

Stay tuned for more details on how and why we’re implementing this exciting change!

11/12/2025

The Sussex Fire Department participated in the Waukesha County Communications bimonthly MABAS radio drill this week.

This drill simulated a vehicle vs. school bus crash with 10 injured patients, occuring in the Village of Sussex testing radio communications, coordination, and response procedures between departments and dispatch.

Training like this helps ensure we’re ready to respond effectively when real emergencies happen.

11/11/2025

Today, we honor and thank all the brave men and women who have served our country in the United States Armed Forces.

The Sussex Fire Department is proud to recognize our veterans—both within our department and throughout our community—for their service, sacrifice, and dedication to protecting the freedoms we enjoy every day.

To all who have worn the uniform: thank you for your service.

10/31/2025

10/28/2025

Happy National First Responders Day!

Today we honor the dedication, courage, and selflessness of all first responders — firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, dispatchers, law enforcement, and healthcare professionals — who answer the call to serve every day.

Thank you for standing ready, no matter the hour or challenge. We’re proud to serve alongside you. 👩‍🚒🚒👮‍♂️🚑

10/16/2025

🎃🔥 Halloween Fire Safety Tips from Sussex Fire Department! 🔥🎃

Halloween is almost here — costumes, candy, and spooky decorations galore! 👻 But before the fun begins, make sure your night is fire-safe with these quick tips:

🕯️ Use battery-powered candles in pumpkins and decorations instead of real flames.
👗 Choose flame-resistant costumes and avoid long, trailing fabric.
🏠 Keep decorations away from heat sources like candles, heaters, and light bulbs.
💡 Light the way! Use flashlights or glow sticks for trick-or-treating.
🚒 Check smoke alarms before hosting parties or decorating.
🔥 Remind kids: If their costume catches fire — Stop, Drop, and Roll!

Let’s make this Halloween spooky for the right reasons — not because of a fire! From all of us at the Sussex Fire Department, have a fun and safe Halloween! 🎃👻🧯