A team of 14 members from our department participated in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life held at Mike Webster Stadium in Rhinelander.  Team members took turns walking all night and raising money for a great cause along with taking second place in a nighttime volleyball game.  Sparky and Freckles the Fire Dogs were on hand to participate along with firefighters giving tours of the fire safety house.   Approximately $70,000 was raised.

We held a skills night for our volunteers to practice various tasks they need to perform at an incident.  There were several stations to rotate through including search and rescue, ladders and ropes, hose rolls, confined space rescues and pump training.

Two of our firefighters recently completed Certified Firefighter 2.  Great job guys.

We presented several awards to businesses or individuals who have been big supporters of the emergency services here in Oneida County.  These awards were a direct response to their commitment to the recent mock car accident held at Rhinelander High School.  Many organizations were a tremendous help in putting this demonstration on, but these individuals went above and beyond to help us provide a lasting impression. 

Liz Rieschel, an instructor at Nicolet Technical College did all of the make-up for our victims.  The victims were very convincing. 

Rhinelander Auto Salvage provided us with the vehicles necessary to conduct the demonstration.  The crew there removed all fluids and glass from the vehicles to make this a safe event. 

We applaud the commitment they make to the community.

Units from our department responded as automatic mutual aid to a structure fire in the Town of Pine Lake.  The Pine Lake Fire Chief arrived first on scene and discovered a fire in the basement.

He deployed a FIT-5 fire interruption device to slow the fire until crews could arrive and extinguish the blaze.  The house sustained a small amount of damage to a confined area in the basement.  The cause of the fire is under investigation and has not been determined at this time.

Our department responded to a vehicle accident on Sycamore Street involving one car that had left the roadway and struck a tree.  Power lines were knocked down in the accident and the car ended up well off the road into the woods.  The single occupant of the car was transported to St. Marys Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

On Sunday morning Engine 2 and Rescue 1 responded to a motor vehicle accident involving a power pole.  Initial reports were that the car was on fire and the occupant was still in the vehicle.  While enroute we were advised the occupant was out and the car was not on fire, but there were live power lines down.

E-2 and R-1 secured the scene until crews from Wisconsin Public Service arrived and de-energized the system.   The occupant of the vehicle was checked over by Medic 1, but was not transported to the hospital. 

We recently obtained pictures from the Department of Natural Resources of the Haymeadow Fire on North Pelican lake Road.  These pictures were taken from the fire tower and also from the aircraft flying overhead.

At 12:50 PM our department was dispatched to a brush fire in the area of North Pelican lake Road.  Our first arriving units found a large fire spreading fast due to high winds coupled with the drought conditions spanning the last several years.

Several Wis. Department of Natural Resources units were already on scene.  Our initial assignment was structure protection for several buildings in the path of the fire.  D.N.R dozers plowed a fire break around the fire, but flames pushed by strong winds jumped the fire line several times.

An evacuation was started for homes in the path of the flames due to the inability to stop the fire.  Not only did we have a ground fire, but it was also burning in the crown of the trees.

A total of 7 structures were in the path of the fire, but were protected and did not sustain any damage.  The fire burned 23.6 acres of land.

Mutual aid was requested from many area fire departments and agencies with a total of 77 personnel and 43 units responding.  A complete list follows of all resources involved.

Pelican Fire  - 5 units, 12 personnel

Crescent Fire - 4 units, 8 personnel

Stella Fire - 1 unit, 1 personnel

Pine Lake Fire - 3 units, 6 personnel

Newbold Fire - 3 units, 6 personnel

Monico Fire - 3 units, 5 personnel

Pelican Lake Fire - 2 units, 4 personnel

Cassian Fire - 2 units, 4 personnel

Sugar Camp Fire - 2 units, 4 personnel

W.D.N.R. - 11 units, 14 personnel

Oneida County E.M. - 1 vehicle, 2 personnel

American Red Cross - 1 vehicle, 2 personnel

Little Rice Fire E.S.U. - 1 vehicle, 4 personnel

Oneida County Sheriff - 3 units, 3 personnel

Oneida County Medic One - 1 unit, 2 personnel

Members of our department participated in a car demolition at Nicolet Technical College.  People were charged for the chance to swing a hammer and demolish a vehicle with the proceeds benefiting the Rhinelander Area Food Pantry.  After the fundraiser, department members gave a Jaws demonstration.

Units from our department, Pine Lake Fire and the Department of Natural Resources responded to a brush fire on North Pelican Lake Road. 

Our department was paged for a house filled with smoke on Barbara Street today.  Assistant Chief Hollands responded directly to the scene and reported light smoke showing.  Investigation by the first in crew revealed an oven fire that had burned itself out.  Pine Lake Fire responded as automatic mutual aid and Rhinelander Fire was requested for their rapid intervention team.  Units were on scene for approx 30 minutes. 

Our rapid intervention team responded to a structure fire in the 900 block of Mason Street.  There were reports of an explosion and someone trapped inside.  Additional air pack personnel were requested from our department due to the extended time it took to extinguish the blaze.  Assistance was also provided by the Pine Lake Fire Department, Newbold Fire Department, Little Rice Fire Department and the American Red Cross.

The Oneida County Sheriff's Department recently donated six Motorola MT-2000 portable radios to our department.  These radios were surplus equipment for them when they switched over to a digital system.  They were reprogrammed for our use by Dan Mehring at Front Line Service here in Rhinelander.  The radios will be put to good use on our emergency scenes.  A big thanks to the sheriff's department for their generous donation.

We were notified yesterday by Senator Russ Feingold's office that we were being awarded an Assistance to Firefighters Grant for new extrication tools.  This award, in the amount of $35,643 will be used to buy new Jaws of Life, cribbing, air bags and vehicle stabilization struts.  These tools will replace old outdated equipment.

Our entire department is very thankful for this program administered by the Department of Homeland Security.  Without it we would not be able to replace this much needed, essential equipment.