Meet Firefighter/EMT Kevin Rilea

Where are you stationed?

I'm currently on 'C' shift at Fire Station 3 on Willy St.

Tell us something about your territory that makes it unique or special.

I've lived in this territory for almost 9 years now. I also spent a lot of time on Willy Street while I was in school at UW-Madison for four years. My son goes to middle school in this territory, and being able to help the community I'm directly involved in every day is a real treat. I love being able to go to calls on campus, near State St, to businesses I frequent and that are close to my current home. 

Station 3 has a great crew that has been covering this territory for years, so the knowledge and insight they have in terms of our territory's buildings/their construction (a lot of buildings/houses in the area are well over 100 years old), the people, and the businesses is incredibly helpful.

How has your previous education or work experience prepared you for the role of firefighter/EMT for the City of Madison?

Prior to joining MFD, I worked in Corporate Sourcing & Procurement for 10 years at companies like Target, Land's End, Fiskars, and Exact Sciences. These roles had me traveling and communicating with people all over the world to find the right materials and products we needed. 

Working with such a diverse group of people helped me to quickly learn how to relate to people with lives completely different from mine, to put myself in their shoes, and to communicate effectively and efficiently, which are all skills that are incredibly applicable to my role in the MFD. Beyond that, my main role was to negotiate, which also comes in handy on many calls.

Why did you want to work for the Madison Fire Department?

I wanted to join the MFD because I felt it was the best way I could have a positive impact on this wonderful city. Madison has been my home for over 12 years. This community has given me and my family so much, and I wanted to give back in the most direct way that I could. I cannot think of a better way to impact the Madison community positively.

What are some professional goals you have for yourself?

I hope to one day become a member of the Heavy Urban Rescue Team (HURT), become a paramedic, become an apparatus engineer, and eventually a lieutenant.

What do you do when you're not working at MFD?

I love to be outside as much as possible during the warm months. I play a lot of golf and volleyball. I run, hike, camp, and love to bike all over this city with my son. I'm a huge movie fanatic, so I do spend my fair share of time indoors as well.