Firefighter/EMT Jake Roche

Where are you stationed? 
I am currently stationed downtown, serving out of Fire Station 1 on the ‘B' shift. 

What did you do before working for MFD?  
I was employed as a fulltime firefighter with another Dane County agency. 

Where did you grow up?  
I grew up just north of Madison on my family farm in Rio, Wisconsin.  

What sparked your passion for the fire service and EMS? 
My interest started while I was in high school. With a background in agriculture, I saw a lot of similarities in work ethic, problem solving abilities, and always doing something different each day. That made it very appealing to me. 

Why did you choose Madison Fire Department? 
Madison Fire is a highly capable service that utilizes its extensive resources to meet the ever-changing needs of the community. There are a lot of different avenues and disciplines at this department that allow you to find what you are truly passionate about and help you to grow and excel personally and professionally.  

How did your previous education or work experience help prepare you for this role?  
I am a big advocate for pursuing a Fire Science Internship program and gaining valuable experience in a firehouse setting while you work towards graduating with an associate degree in Fire Science. I also think that, with anything, different life experiences from each member on this department all contribute to bringing something valuable to the table. I hope that my previous experience in farming and the fire service can be of benefit to the department and community as a whole.  

What was your favorite part of the recruit academy?  
My favorite part of the recruit academy was building relationships with some really great people and effectively spending 40 hours a week learning and working alongside like-minded people that wanted to push you to be your best.  

What are you doing when you're not training?  
Staying up to date and familiar with the equipment that we carry. As well as continuing education with our Apprenticeship Program projects and learning about more in-depth concepts within our job duties.