Operations & Administration is under the supervision of Assistant Chief Michael Dirienzo

Fire Department Information

Fire Fighters Local 311

City of Madison Home Page

Operations Overview

Operations is the largest division of the department and is made up of 124 uniformed firefighters, 51 apparatus engineers, 64 firefighter/paramedics, 51 lieutenants, 6 division chiefs, and 3 assistant chiefs.  These are the personnel that make up the fire companies.  Assistant Chief Michael Dirienzo supervises the operations division and is supported by Division Chief Ernesto Martinez and Division Chief Michael Popovich, who coordinate the Special Teams (Lake Rescue, Hazardous Incident Team, and Technical Rescue) and Field Services, respectively.

Madison has eleven (11) fire stations serving the city.  Each day (24-hour shift), there are a total of 68 on-duty personnel that make up the fire suppression companies, rescues, and special teams of the fire department.   All on-duty personnel are under the supervision of one Officer In Charge (OIC).  The OIC is on duty for 24-hour periods and is responsible for directing all operations and emergencies.  OIC's are readily identifiable at fire scenes as they are positioned inside the Command Vehicle with the Chief's Aide.  At all emergency incidents, department procedure calls for a command post to be set up at the scene.  The command post is responsible for the overall direction of emergency activities. 

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Fire Companies

Fire companies are the basic unit of firefighting with a crew of firefighters assigned to a particular piece of fire apparatus and station.  Each fire company is organized, equipped, and trained for particular functions as discussed below.   For all fire companies, life safety (search & rescue) is always the first consideration followed by incident stabilization (fire control, attack, suppression, ventilation) and property conservation (overhaul & salvage).  All crew members go through extensive and continuous training that is both physically and mentally challenging in order to be able to complete the demanding functions that firefighting requires.  Although each company may perform a specific duty at an incident, it is the team work and coordination of the entire responding team of companies that safely, efficiently, and effectively saves lives, stabilizes the incident, and minimizes damage to property.  A typical first alarm structure fire response will include 2 engine companies, 2 ladder companies, 1 squad company, 1 rescue, and command.

• Engine Companies - Fire engines (or pumper) are the most common type of company in the City of Madison Fire Department with a total of eight (9) engines in service on a daily basis.  Engines are located at stations 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11.  All engines are equipped with a pump, several hundred gallons of water, and large amount of hose line of various sizes for fire attack and exposure protection.  Engines also carry ladders to access multiple floor structures, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), tools used for forcible entry and extrication from vehicle accidents, first aid equipment, a variety of hose appliances and tools, and assorted other equipment.  The crew of an Engine Company usually consists of an officer, apparatus engineer, and two firefighters.

The primary functions of the engine company are fire attack, life safety (search & rescue), and exposure protection.  Depending on the circumstances, Engine Companies will hook up to water sources (e.g., hydrants), quickly deploy hoseline from the vehicle, and attack the fire using a water stream to extinguish the fire while minimizing the water damage to the structure.  Engine companies also provide immediate life support and supply additional staff to assist paramedics during EMS incidents.

• Truck/Ladder Companies - All four of the City of Madison Fire Department Ladder Companies are equipped with aerial ladders.  Ladder companies are located at stations 1, 2, 6, and 8.    Equipment usually consists of a full assortment of hand raised ground ladders, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), generators to produce power form emergency lighting and equipment, forcible entry and rescue tools, power saws, equipment for overhaul and salvage, salvage covers to protect furniture and fixtures during firefighting operations, emergency medical equipment, and an assortment of other tools and equipment.  The crew of a Ladder Company usually consists of an officer, apparatus engineer, and two firefighters.

Being a crew member of a Ladder Company can be one of the most challenging and rewarding assignments on the City of Madison Fire Department.  Duties, in no particular order, include forcible entry, search & rescue, laddering, ventilation, overhaul and checking for fire extension, placing and operating elevated water streams, and salvage.  The type and order of the duties performed at an incident depends on the type of incident and the emergency situation at hand.  However, in all cases, the safety of the crew members and any victims is the first priority at any incident.  Ladder companies also provide immediate life support and supply additional staff to assist paramedics during EMS incidents, as necessary.

• Squad Company - The Squad Company, located at Station 1, typically staffed by an officer and apparatus engineer, is a multi-purpose unit equipped to respond to a variety of emergency incidents including fire, lake rescue, technical rescue, and medical emergencies.   The squad, one of the busiest units in the department,  is equipped with extrication tools and equipment, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), ventilation equipment, forcible entry and overhaul equipment, search & rescue equipment, medical equipment and supplies, equipment to support the Lake Rescue and Technical Rescue teams, and equipment and supplies for firefighter rehabilitation.

Fire Company Activities

In addition to responding to emergency incidents, extensive preparation, training, and community outreach is required to meet the challenges of a modern and growing city like the City of Madison.  Below is a sampling of activities a company goes through each week.

•  Inspection  - Crews work with the Fire Prevention Unit in the inspection of businesses and apartment buildings to help eliminate fire hazards and to acquaint the firefighters with the general layout of buildings in the event a fire should occur.

• Drills - Each week drills are conducted on firefighting operations.  Drills are essential in keeping firefighter skills at the highest level of readiness.  Drills include ladder work, pump operations, breathing apparatus, hose layouts, rescue techniques, emergency medical care, practice fires, and much more.

• Apparatus Maintenance - Apparatus maintenance is the continuous task of preparing fire apparatus and equipment to operate under the most adverse conditions.  Inspection, cleaning, and preventative maintenance are performed daily. 

• Post Incident Analysis - These involve in-depth discussions of previous fires and operations, the problems that may have occurred, and suggestions for improvement.

• Classes - During class periods, subjects for discussion range from the hazards of fire gases and chemicals to building construction.  Many specialized classes dealing with fire suppression tactics, hazardous materials, emergency medical techniques, etc., are scheduled throughout the year.

• Pre-Fire Plan - A pre-fire plan involves developing the familiarity with the characteristics of a building or a business that is vital in a firefighting operation,  Such characteristics include layout, content, electrical panels, sprinkler systems, standpipe location and operation, stairways, elevators, exits, false ceilings, and any special hazards that may be present.

• Community Education - In conjunction with the Community Education Unit, fire companies visit classrooms at daycares, preschools, grade schools, middle schools, and high schools to present fire safety information.   They participate in community activities such as Safety Saturday and Fire Prevention Week.  They conduct station tours to groups such as preschools and the Cub Scouts.  All the firefighters are active in fire prevention throughout the community. 

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Hazardous Materials Incident Team

Madison’s Hazardous Incident Team (HIT), led by Division Chief Michael Popovich, is one of eight regional “Level A” hazardous materials response teams designated by the State of Wisconsin to provide assistance in hazardous materials emergencies.  The team can be activated for any incident involving a hazardous materials release, leak, explosion, injury, or potential of immediate threat to life, the environment, or property.  The Madison Regional Response Team (RRT) covers the Wisconsin counties of Sauk, Columbia, Dodge, Dane, Iowa, Grant, Lafayette, Green, and Rock.

Within Dane County, the team provides communities with "Level B" and "Level A" hazardous materials support.  The Madison Fire Department works with the local Civil Support Team and the Dane County Decontamination Support Teams to augment the abilities of hazardous materials response.

There are three levels (Level I, II, and III) of hazardous material incident responses that vary in the amount of personnel and equipment needed, as well as the level of protection needed at a given incident.  Level I incidents can be readily controlled and stabilized by properly trained and equipped first responders.  Level I incidents do not require the HIT to respond to the scene, although HIT personnel might be contacted for technical assistance.  Level II incidents require the expertise and resources of the hazardous incident core team.  HIT core personnel, including the HIT Leader, HIT Safety, and two entry personnel, would arrive on location to assist in on-site advisory, on-site assessment and analysis, on-site identification, and on-site mitigation.  Level III incidents are classified as emergencies and require a full response with expanded personnel above the core team.  Adequate satellite personnel will be transported to the scene to conduct team operations.  For in-city Level III responses, a total of 19 personnel are required to fully staff the hazardous incident team.  For out-of-city Level III responses, a total of 12 personnel are required to staff the hazardous incident team.  All hazardous material emergency operations (Levels I, II, and III) follow an eight step process including site control, identification of product(s), hazard & risk assessment, personal protective equipment evaluation, information and resource coordination, control measures, decontamination, and termination activities.

The core members of Madison's Hazardous Incident Team are located at Stations 5 & 6.  There are eighteen core team members with specialized  hazardous materials operations training.  In addition, there are over 54 department members or satellite personnel located throughout the 11 fire stations that have hazardous materials training and are ready for calls in the event of a hazardous materials incident.  The HIT 6 bus/mobile command center is located at Station 6 and the HIT 5 vehicle with trailer is located at Station 5.  HIT 6 contains all the necessary equipment and tools to operate as a mobile command center at a hazardous materials incident.  This includes level A, B, and C personal protective equipment, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), communications equipment, hazardous materials databases, maps, weather station, audio & video equipment, hazardous materials monitors and detectors, decontamination equipment, and other assorted equipment. 

The training coordinator for the team is Lieutenant David Peterson and he oversees the weekly training each Monday for all members.  For more information or to request the Hazardous Materials Team for an outreach event contact the Division Chief of Special Teams, Michael Popovich, at 608-266-5946.  For more information on the Wisconsin Regional Response Team contact Wisconsin Emergency Management at 1-800-943-0003 (press 2).

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Lake Rescue Team

The City of Madison Fire Department has 51 trained scuba divers, certified by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors.  On-duty divers respond year-round to topside, underwater, and ice rescues and recoveries, vehicle recovery, and assistance calls from the City of Madison Police Department and Dane County Sheriff.  Lake Rescue team members conduct training on Tuesdays to instruct new divers and keep current members proficient in diving operations.  The three certified Dive Masters of the department are: A Shift: Jon Mast, B Shift: Ryan Stebnitz,and C Shift: Mike Fuss.  The team has several resources available for response in and around the City of Madison.  Vehicles, boats and team equipment are located at Station 1.  The team is supervised by Division Chief Michael Popovich and coordinated by Lieutenant Steve Davis.  For information regarding the team contact Division Chief Popovich at 608-266-5946. 

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Heavy Urban Rescue Team

The City of Madison Fire Department responds to many types of emergencies.  Any emergency needing technical rescue techniques will initiate the response of the Department’s Heavy Urban Rescue Team (HURT).  These emergencies include, but are not limited to, confined space rescue, high/low angle rope rescue, trench collapse rescue, and building collapse rescue.  The technical rescue capabilities of MFD started in 1985 and have culminated with the implementation of the HURT in 2007.  The HURT will respond anywhere in Dane County for technical rescues, if requested. The team is comprised of 76 members who have been trained to the technician level by completing the following hours of training:  Ropes: 80 hrs., Confined Space: 40 hrs., Trench: 48 hrs., Light Collapse: 40 hrs., and Heavy Collapse: 40 hrs.  Ongoing training is done every Friday along with annual trips to the State’s Regional Emergency All-Climate Training (REACT) Center at Volk Field.  University of Wisconsin facilities, the City of Madison Water Utility, and a network of private contractors have donated time, facilities, and money to enhance our training possibilities.

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Rapid Intervention Team

The City of Madison Fire Department is committed to the safety of our personnel.  In 2003 MFD implemented a dedicated Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) to be assigned to any fire call or incident in need of a RIT.  Engines 3 & 4 split the city east and west covering the assignments as RIT.  The RIT’s core is comprised of the 36 members assigned to Stations 3 & 4.  RIT trains every Tuesday morning on a multitude of firefighter rescue topics.  RIT also assists in the training of all companies as “ Safety Companies” in the event E3 or E4 are unavailable. Safety and tracking personnel are also a RIT responsibility on the fire ground.   Many individuals and businesses in the Madison area have donated acquired structures that allow for full-fledged scenarios of firefighter rescues.  All new hires are given a “RIT Skills Drill” to introduce them to Mayday and self-rescue techniques.

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