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Brush fires, farm emergencies, shared staffing, and smarter instruction.

Dear Colleagues, As of March 1, 2024, the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) transitioned to the new ACADIS Testing and Certification System. All WTCS fire service certifications issued on or after March 1, 2024 are now available exclusively through this new system. Important Details: WTCS Fire Service Training ACADIS site: This ACADIS site is now the primary location to access and verify your current WTCS fire service certifications. Entry-Level Courses: Entry-level f

The Shift from “Skills First” to “Thinking First” Training For decades, we taught from the bottom up: skills → scenarios → decision-making. It worked well enough, but today’s new recruits walk into the firehouse with different learning expectations. They learn faster when the why  comes before the how . Teaching reframed: Start with thinking models , not task lists. Teach students how to structure decisions  before you hand them a tool. Use short, tight “micro-scenarios” (2–3

Rising Call Volumes Highlight Training Needs Across Wisconsin The Township Fire Department (Chippewa Valley) released its 2025 call summary: 432 fire calls  and 1,225 EMS calls , marking another year of increasing demand on responders and training programs statewide. https://www.weau.com/2026/01/02/township-fire-department-released-2025-call-summary/ These numbers echo a growing statewide trend — more calls, more complexity, and a shrinking pool of responders to handle the lo

Oshkosh Firefighter Dies in Line-of-Duty Travel Crash (From Firerescue1.com ) Oshkosh Firefighter/Paramedic Tom Diener, who also served as a lieutenant with the Town of Sheboygan Fire Department, died following a vehicle crash on an Indiana highway on December 11. Diener was traveling for work related to public safety and emergency warning systems at the time of the incident, along with two other firefighters, Carter Haen and Robbie Betts. The Oshkosh Fire Department confirme

Civil verdict underscores command accountability A Whiteside County, Illinois jury awarded $31.5 million to the widow and two daughters of Lieutenant Garrett Ramos, a firefighter killed in a December 2021 structure fire. The case centered on a tragic collapse and fatal basement fall inside a burning structure. The jury found that two command officers — named in the suit — were each 50 % responsible because of failures in command decisions, accountability, and risk management

New Wisconsin EMS Laws Strengthen Training and Support Governor Tony Evers recently signed two bipartisan bills (2025 Wisconsin Acts 35 and 36) aimed at bolstering EMS training programs and reimbursement across the state. These changes will directly impact instructors, students, and EMS programs statewide. Message from Governor Evers (Click here) • Senate Bill 182 , now 2025  Wisconsin Act 35 : Creates grants for Wisconsin Technical College System EMS programs and reimburses