Dodge Fire Department & 1st Responders

11/05/2026

FYI

🚜 Farmers, Contractors and property owners: Don't let your property become an easy target!

Our region, including Eau Claire County, has seen an increase in thefts involving valuable metals, equipment, and other property. Three recent trends have caught our attention: rural farms, new construction sites and unoccupied properties.

Rural Farms & Irrigation Systems

One recent trend appears to be targeting rural farms and the electrical equipment and power supplies used to operate irrigation systems.

With irrigation systems largely out of service this time of year, theft or damage may go unnoticed for several months. Unfortunately, just because the irrigation system is taking the winter off doesn't mean thieves are doing the same!

If you own or operate a farm with an irrigation system, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Check your equipment: Periodically inspect power supplies, electrical components, and other equipment associated with your irrigation system.

Secure what you can: Lock electrical enclosures and access points, and consider additional lighting or cameras where practical.

Keep an eye on things: Ask neighboring property owners to watch for unusual activity and make periodic checks of your equipment throughout the off-season.

New Construction Sites

Construction sites are also being targeted, with thieves taking tools, building materials, and components of the building's infrastructure, including electrical wiring and other electrical components.

Contractors and property owners should consider:

Secure tools and equipment: Whenever possible, remove valuable tools from job sites overnight or lock them in secure storage.

Protect materials: Secure wiring, electrical components, and other valuable materials that may be left at the site.

Monitor the property: Consider cameras, motion-activated lighting, fencing, and regular after-hours checks when practical.

Help Us Keep an Eye Out!

Many of these thefts appear to be occurring during nighttime hours. Pay attention to unfamiliar vehicles or people around vacant properties, farm fields, irrigation equipment, construction sites, and field access roads.

If you notice suspicious activity, please contact your local Sheriff's Office so it can be checked out. If you witness a theft in progress or an immediate threat, call 911. Please do not approach or confront individuals you believe may be involved. If you observe a vehicle or people, try to recall details of the vehicle or people involved.

A little extra attention and a few preventative steps now could save you a costly and frustrating surprise later. Help us keep an eye on our rural communities and construction sites!

10/31/2026

Great reminder from our friends at Galesville Fire Department!

10/31/2026

To funny not to share. Have a safe Halloween everyone!

Happy Halloween 🎃

10/28/2026

Today is National First Responders Day!🚓🚒🚑

From firefighters and law enforcement officers to EMTs, paramedics, and 911 dispatchers, you all make a difference every day.

Thank you for your service and your commitment to keeping us all safe. ❤️

10/28/2026

October 28th, very nice gesture and much appreciated!

10/23/2026

Our fire danger map is showing blue and yellow, but it’s not for the Brewers – it’s to show elevated fire conditions this weekend, today through Sunday, Oct. 25.

If you’re planning to head outside this weekend to enjoy the beautiful fall weather, check on the latest fire restrictions before going out. Anyone who decides to have a campfire or warming fire should maintain at least a 3-foot clearing around the fire and keep the fire small. Always keep water and a shovel handy, and keep the fire attended. When you’re finished burning, drown and stir the fire with a shovel until the fire is out. Check the ashes with the back of your hand for any warmth and repeat the wetting process until the fire is 100% out.

Improper ash disposal is another common cause of wildfires. When disposing of ashes from a stove or fireplace, foresters recommend placing them into a steel bucket or metal garbage can. The ash should only then be disposed of by spreading on bare ground, such as a tilled garden or plowed field, when cold.
ATV and other vehicle users in the forests should check around their mufflers for dry grass, leaves and pine needles. This debris can turn into a smoldering cinder, fall off on a grassy backwoods trail and start a fire.

Check WisBurn and follow fire safety tips to enjoy the outdoors safely: https://apps.dnr.wi.gov/wisburn/ #/

10/13/2026

Please see post below for upcoming First Responder course offered in Fountain City. We will sponsor any individuals who plan to join the Dodge First Responders.

WE HAVE EXCITING NEWS TO SHARE!

Have you been thinking about becoming a First Responder and making a difference in your community?

We’re excited to announce that we’re hosting a local EMR class through Western Technical College (WTC) right here in Fountain City! This is a great opportunity to learn new skills, help those in need, and take the first step toward becoming a First Responder.

We welcome surrounding communities to join us! Please share this post with friends, family, and anyone who might be interested. You never know who might be ready to take that next step and make a difference in their community.

Interested in enrolling or have questions? Reach out to us at [email protected]. We’re happy to help answer questions, and would love to welcome you.

Together, we can build stronger communities, support our neighbors, and be there when it matters most.

YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS YOU!

09/20/2026

Good info

Ever wonder why an ambulance might load a patient, close the doors… and then just sit there for a few minutes before leaving?

Chances are, we’re not just sitting there.

Once a patient is in the back of the ambulance, we have a lot of tools and equipment right at our fingertips. Cardiac monitors, medications, IV supplies, airway equipment, and plenty more. Depending on the ambulance service, there may even be advanced equipment like ultrasound available.

Before we start heading to the hospital, there are times when we need a few extra minutes to assess the patient, check vital signs, run an EKG, start an IV, give medications, or perform other treatments.

We’re also trying to answer an important question:

Where is the best place for this patient to go?

Not every hospital provides the same level of care for every emergency. One hospital may be the best destination for a stroke patient, while another may be better equipped for a major trauma or certain cardiac emergencies.

What we find during our assessment can completely change the destination.

Could we do some of this while driving?

Absolutely.

But some things are a whole lot easier — and safer — to do while the ambulance is sitting still instead of bouncing down the road. 😂

So the next time you see an ambulance sitting in front of a house for a few minutes after the patient has already been loaded, don’t assume nothing is happening.

There’s a pretty good chance the crew is actively assessing, treating, and deciding on the best plan for that patient before the wheels ever start moving.

We’re not wasting time. We’re using it.

What’s something you’ve always wondered about what happens inside an ambulance?

09/11/2026

On the eve of 9/11 may all those who have been affected by this tragedy have peace tomorrow