Waterloo Wisconsin Fire Rescue Department

06/02/2026

First Monday Driver Operator Training! 🚒🔥
Last night, our crews were out practicing critical fireground skills to stay sharp and ready for the community.Training highlights included:
Aerial Operations: Setting up and master streaming from the ladder truck.
Hand Lines: Pulling and advancing attack lines directly from the truck.
Foam Pumping: Utilizing Engine 3967 to practice foam suppression.
Training like this ensures our team is prepared for any emergency. Great work by everyone involved!

05/27/2026

Please join Waterloo Fire and Rescue in congratulating Firefighter/EMT Kellan Smith as he begins basic training with the United States Air Force.
Kellan is a valued member of our department, and we are incredibly proud to see him continue his service on a national level.
We wish him success and look forward to welcoming him home when training is completed.

05/22/2026

On this Memorial Day Weekend, Waterloo Fire & Rescue remembers and honors the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice protects the freedoms we enjoy every day, and we are forever grateful.

As we gather with family and friends, we encourage everyone to take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of this day and the heroes who never made it home.

From all of us at Waterloo Fire & Rescue, we honor the fallen, support their families, and stand united in gratitude.

We remember. We respect. We will never forget.

05/21/2026

🚑 Celebrating 60 Years of EMS in Waterloo – 1966 to 2026

Thank you to everyone who has followed along as we’ve shared our journey through the past sixty years. Your support means a great deal to our members, and we look forward to serving the Waterloo community for many more years to come.

The 2000s brought significant change to Waterloo EMS as technology advanced and new equipment became available. During this decade, Rescue 9—built on a Freightliner chassis—was purchased to replace the aging Rescue 12, continuing our commitment to reliable, modern response vehicles.

This era also brought a tremendous loss with the passing of Dr. Ben Schmidt, who had served as Medical Director since 1995. His dedication to training, patient care, and high standards shaped our department for years. In time, a new medical director stepped in to carry forward that same commitment to excellence.

What began in 1966 as the vision of Dr. John Garman has grown into a long‑standing, storied history—one built by volunteers, EMTs, firefighters, medical partners, and community supporters who believe in taking care of one another.

To all past and present members, and to everyone who supports Waterloo EMS: thank you. We could not provide the level of service we do without you.

Stay tuned—more history and milestones are on the way as we continue celebrating The Waterloo Fire and Rescue Department.

05/19/2026

🚨 TRAINING NIGHT RECAP 🚨
Third Monday training session, sharpening the essential skills that save lives on the fireground. 👨‍🚒🔥Our teams rotated through hands-on stations focusing on:
⏱️ Mask Ups – Perfecting rapid SCBA connection for immediate protection in toxic environments.
🚪 Forcible Entry – Mastering inward and outward door breaches to ensure rapid entry when seconds count.
💪 Victim Drags – Practicing efficient, life-saving removal techniques.
💦 Hose Advancement – Managing and moving charged lines to guarantee an aggressive, successful fire attack.
📻 Mayday Drills – Rehearsing critical firefighter survival protocols and high-stress radio communication.
Training never stops because your safety is our top priority. Proud of the hard work and dedication put in by everyone last night! 🚒🚒

05/19/2026

Current and past EMS members gathered for a picture to celebrate 60 years of EMS Service! We are so grateful to all of our volunteers for their unwavering dedication to serving their community over the past 6 decades!

05/17/2026

05/14/2026

Celebrating 60 Years of EMS in Waterloo – 1966 to 2026

As we continue our journey through six decades of EMS history in Waterloo, this week we look back at the 1990s — a decade of growth, modernization, and meaningful transitions for our department.

The early 1990s brought new opportunities for training as members explored the EMT‑Intermediate (EMT‑E) level, bridging the gap between EMT‑Basic and Paramedic. In 1991, two members expanded our capabilities even further by becoming certified scuba divers.

By 1992, the department introduced pagers to notify members of calls — a system still used today to ensure rapid response.

A major milestone came in 1995 when Dr. John Garman stepped down as Medical Director after serving since the very beginning of the rescue squad. His leadership shaped the foundation of patient care and training standards in Waterloo. Dr. Ben Schmidt stepped into the role, continuing the high expectations and commitment to excellence established by Dr. Garman.

That same year, the department purchased its next rescue vehicle — Rescue 14. Built on a Freightliner chassis with a Medtec box, it introduced a new era of design, including the now‑familiar teal color scheme created by Trek Bicycle. A new cot‑loading system was also added, improving safety and reducing strain on EMTs during patient loading.

Another important change in the mid‑90s was the official shift in name from Rescue Squad to Waterloo EMS, reflecting the department’s evolving identity and expanding capabilities.

Thank you to all past and present members who helped shape this decade of progress. Your dedication continues to move Waterloo EMS forward.

05/13/2026

Crews from several neighboring counties answered the call on April 23 after a five-alarm fire broke out at Palmyra's Cold Spring Egg Farm, in one of the largest fires in town history.

For six hours, firefighters battled windy conditions, using tanker and pond water to extinguish the fire.

Although a large barn was destroyed, there were no human or animal injuries. The barn was empty at the time of the fire.

At its monthly meeting on May 12, the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors approved a proclamation thanking all of the agencies who rushed to Palmyra to render aid:

Beloit
Burlington
Cambridge
Clyman-Lowell-Reeseville
Darien
Delavan
East Troy
Elkhorn
Fontana
Fort Atkinson
Hartland
Helenville
Ixonia
Jefferson
Kettle Moraine
LaGrange
Lake Country
Lake Geneva
Lake Mills
Lakeside
Lebanon
Lyons
MABAS Division 102 (Racine County)
MABAS Division 115 (Dane County)
Merton
Mukwonago
Palmyra
Rome
Sullivan
Tess Corners
Troy Center
Vernon
Waterloo
Watertown
Waukesha (City and Village)
Western Lakes
Wheatland
Whitewater

Thank you!