Meet Firefighter/EMT Ashley Kastern

Where are you stationed?
Station 3 (Williamson Street) on the 'A' shift.

What did you do before working for MFD? 
Before working for Madison, I was a Firefighter/Paramedic at Whitewater Fire Department. 

What sparked your passion for the fire service and EMS?   
My mom was a nurse, and she inspired me to work in the medical field. I was initially pursuing nursing, until I took the EMT course so I could start learning about the medical field hands-on. I ended up enjoying EMT and went on to get my fire certifications and paramedic. 

Why did you choose Madison Fire Department?   
I loved the diversity of the city and the opportunities MFD offers to continue to grow and learn. 

What advice would you give someone who wants to become a firefighter/EMT?   
For anyone who wants to be a FF/EMT, I would tell them to never be afraid to try and never stop learning. Everyone has a "first." No one started the job being perfect. Put yourself out there and try. Learning comes with mistakes. There's always more to learn, and you may teach others things even if you are new. 

What is the biggest goal you want to accomplish in your first year with MFD?   
My biggest goal for my first year is to become a more confident firefighter and leave a good impression on the people I work with. Academy is different than real life. I have the knowledge and the skills for the job, but I want to be able to predict what my officer wants. To be able to look at the same situation and be ahead of the challenge. It all comes with time, training, and experience. 

What was your favorite part of the Recruit Academy?
My favorite part of the academy was going though Smoke Divers and the Swamp Drill. Smoke Divers is a mental test more than anything. Getting through that week and making it fun was so rewarding. It's messy, challenging, and you get to do it all with some of your now-closest friends. The swamp drill felt like a final celebration, and it was so much fun to mess around with the training cadre and the rest of the class. 

How do you see your role within the fire department contributing positively to the Madison community?  
I think my positive attitude and drive to learn will benefit the community. On long nights, I would rather be laughing and tired than mad and tired. Doing this makes it easier for you, your crew, and anyone you respond to. 

Staying up on your training can help ensure you perform to the highest quality, which is what the community deserves.