Meet Firefighter/EMT Tony Mangi

Where are you stationed?
Station 7 (McKenna Boulevard) on the ‘C’ shift

What attracted you to this career?
I really enjoy and frankly need the level of responsibility that comes with the skills of being a Madison firefighter/EMT. There is always an underlying feeling of needing to get better at every skill because someone's health or life can depend on how good I am. I find that this level of responsibility brings about a solid feeling of purpose in my life.

Why did you want to work in Madison?
Madison became a major part of my life without me realizing it would be in the beginning. I've lived and worked all over the city over the past 7 years, I graduated from UW-Madison, and met the love of my life here. Madison has given me so much that I want to give back in the best way I know how.

Medical responses are an important part of the service we provide. What have been the most challenging and/or rewarding aspects of these calls for you?
I really find the faith and trust of the public to be the most rewarding aspect of these calls. I feel honored and it gives me the feeling of great responsibility that the people of Madison trust me to come to their home and help them at a stressful time. It's a responsibility I don't take lightly, and I appreciate them trusting me with the task.

What advice do you have for someone hoping to join the MFD as a firefighter/EMT?
I would encourage thinking outside of the box for ways that aid you in becoming a better FF/EMT. Examples would be an ER Technician, Cardiac Monitor Technician, or Med Flight Dispatcher. Although not directly FF/EMT work, these job fields broaden your understanding of medicine and what happens to patients following your interactions with them. This knowledge aids in giving patients comfort because you are able to give them an idea of what to expect following your time with them. These are scary events for some people, and the more peace of mind you can provide them, the better!

Share some fun facts about yourself!
Recently I've wanted to get into archery but usually I do a bit of snowboarding, scuba diving, and reading in my free time.