Meet Firefighter/EMT Cole Rickey

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

What sparked your passion for the fire service and EMS?
My interest grew from wanting a career that combined healthcare, teamwork, and a physically demanding environment. Working as a physical therapist assistant showed me how much I value helping people, and my ride-alongs confirmed that the fire service was the kind of team-oriented career I wanted. 

How did your previous education or work experience help you prepare for this role? 
Working as a physical therapist assistant taught me how to communicate with people during stressful situations, work within a healthcare team, and stay calm and patient. My background in rehab and fitness also gave me a strong foundation in anatomy, injury, and physical conditioning. 

Why did you choose the Madison Fire Department?
The biggest factor was the people and the culture I observed. I also liked the opportunities Madison offers to grow through EMS, specialty teams, leadership, and continued education while allowing me to keep serving the Madison community. 

What advice would you give someone who wants to become a firefighter/EMT? 
Get as much exposure to the career as possible through ride-alongs and talking with people in the profession. Come in physically prepared, but more importantly, be coachable, work hard, ask questions, and be willing to learn from mistakes. 

What was your favorite part of the Recruit Academy? 
My favorite part was seeing everything come together during the hands-on scenarios and realizing how much we had progressed. I also really enjoyed the friendships we built throughout the academy and getting to know the people I'll be working alongside throughout my career.  

How do you see your role within the fire department contributing positively to the Madison community? 
I want to be someone who represents the department well both during emergencies and during everyday interactions with the public. People call the fire department during some of the most stressful moments of their lives, and sometimes the biggest impact we can make is simply being competent, calm, and treating people with respect. 

Having already worked in healthcare in Madison, I have been able to serve people in this community from one perspective, and I'm excited to continue doing that in a different role. Over time, I hope to continue developing my EMS abilities, take advantage of specialty opportunities, and eventually take on more responsibility within the department. 

 What are you doing when you're not training? 
Outside of training, I like spending a lot of my time outdoors. I enjoy hunting, archery, fishing, hiking, being on the water, and staying active. Fitness has been a big part of my life for a long time as well, both personally and through my previous work as a personal trainer.