Meet Firefighter/EMT Lucas Milewski

Where are you stationed?

Station 1 (W. Dayton Street) on the 'B' shift

What makes you territory unique or special? 

Station 1 covers the busy downtown area and part of the UW campus. Station 1 is also home to the MFD Lake Rescue Team, which I have been fortunate to be able to join. When working down here, there is never a dull moment. We are busy and there is always something different going on. 

Have you always wanted to be a firefighter/EMT?

Several of my family members are involved in the fire service. So it is something that I have been exposed to for most of my life. When I was 18, I joined my local volunteer fire department and it didn’t take long before I knew this was what I wanted to do for a career. I held other jobs in agriculture, construction, as well as several other fields before being fortunate enough to become a career firefighter. When I was 20, I was hired on at the Fort McCoy Fire Department, where I worked for about 4 ½ years before. Then I was fortunate enough to get hired with the MFD. 

What has been your most memorable day on the job so far?

My most memorable day so far would probably be a day this past summer when there were very heavy rains in the area causing flooding in the streets and homes. Later that day, we had a fire on West Washington Avenue that was burning underground in the manholes that provide electrical service to a significant portion of the downtown area. The fire was producing thick green smoke and blowing the manhole covers 10-15 feet in the air. 

What advice would you give to someone hoping to join the MFD?

Don’t give up. I had been trying to get hired with the MFD since I was 19 years old. I had to apply and go through three different hiring processes before getting hired almost six years later. Sometimes it’s just not your time. But when it is meant to be, it will work out for you.