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WSESI November 2025 News
- WSESI
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
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 (including misidentifying the mayday caller, not confirming a basement existed, delayed assignment of a safety officer, failures in personnel accountability reporting). The verdict came quickly after deliberation, and the case underscores systemic failures rather than just an operational error.
Why this matters for instructors and training leaders:
Leadership accountability is non-negotiable. This verdict sends a clear message: command decisions, scene awareness, and accountability systems are under scrutiny. If command fails on fundamentals—PAR, mayday tracking, structure knowledge—it can lead not only to tragedy but legal and financial liability.
Training and doctrine must reflect reality. Use this incident as a case study in your training programs: review mayday protocols, accountability tracking (PAR), safety officer assignments, structure pre-planning. Reinforce that every candidate, from junior firefighter to officer, understands these systems and their deadly consequences if ignored.
Program review and policy audits matter. Encourage your departments to audit their SOPs, conduct scenario work-ups based on this incident, and run accountability drills. Prevention of “unknown basement, unknown hazard” starts in pre-planning and drills.
Protecting the next generation. For instructors designing curricula, this is a teachable moment—to integrate leadership decision-making, risk assessment, and scene accountability into every level of training.
West Allis & Wauwatosa Exploring Fire Department Mergers & Outsourcing Police
Across Wisconsin, several municipalities are rethinking their public-safety models. Some are merging fire departments to reduce costs, while others are outsourcing police services to county agencies.
Why it matters:
Consolidation changes training needs — shared SOPs, merged response districts, standardized instructor curriculum, and more multi-agency drills. Instructors must adapt quickly as regionalized departments become more common.
50 Year's of training at Fox Valley Tech
FVTC marked five decades of fire protection education, highlighting its evolution from a handful of students and basic gear to one of the most robust training campuses in the Midwest. (From FVTC)
It’s a reminder of how far Wisconsin’s training infrastructure has come—and how important ongoing investment is. For instructors, it highlights best practices in facility design, curriculum development, and long-term program growth.
News from Madison:
New Wisconsin Laws Boost EMS Workforce and Training Access: Governor Evers signed new legislation expanding tuition reimbursement, increasing on-scene care reimbursement, and lowering financial barriers for EMS training statewide. (Read more here.)
Volunteer Firefighter Training Grants Expand: A new legislative proposal aims to expand training-award access for volunteer firefighters. If your program works with volunteers or low-staff departments, this could mean additional funding/training support ahead — worth tracking.
Technical College Admissions Reform Proposed for Public-Safety Recruits: A new bill proposes allowing technical colleges to reserve admission spots for public-safety recruits sponsored by fire or EMS agencies. This could ease bottlenecks for Firefighter I/II and EMT program enrollment. Instructors may see improved student flow, faster turnaround for new hires, and better alignment between training programs and department staffing needs. (Read the full article here)
Mid-State Technical College Opens New Fire Training Center in Adams
Mid-State opened a new fire training center and kicked off a major campus expansion in Adams, including live-burn space and updated classrooms.
More training space equals more access for rural departments. Instructors should connect early — new facilities often mean new partnerships, new class offerings, and new opportunities for hands-on learning. (More from Mid-State)
DOJ, Mid-State, and Stevens Point FD Hold Fire-Investigation Certification Course
Wisconsin DOJ partnered with Mid-State Technical College and Stevens Point FD to deliver their fifth annual fire-investigation certification class, focusing on origin, cause, evidence handling, and fire dynamics. Fire-investigation training is in high demand. Instructors can use this model to strengthen advance-track offerings, collaborate with law enforcement, or add investigative modules to existing programs. (Read full article here)
65th WSESI Conference Sessions Finalized!
Mark your calendars and plan on attending this years 65th annual conference. Our host for 2026 is Nicolet College in Rhinelander. The line-up this year includes an all star group including Famed Chief and Firefighting legend Forest Reeder, DSPS April Hammond and Gary Peck, Lt. Paul Vind, DCI Special Agent Eric Baine, NFA ISO & PICO courses, and our own Dave Yakowenko.
This year’s theme, “Collaborate. Connect. Conquer.”, focuses on strengthening instructional leadership, improving communication, and building the next generation of emergency service professionals.
Week-long Course is $400. Limited to 20
Ice-Rescue Technician Course is $175. Limited to 15
Friday & Saturday Sessions are $150, WSESI Members $125
NFA courses are $25, Limited to 25
Make your Hotel Reservations at the Clarion Pointe – Rhinelander Downtown
Group Name: Wisconsin Society of Emergency Services Instructors
Sign-up today at wsesi.org/conference
Membership Renewal Reminder
It’s that time again — your Wisconsin Society of Emergency Service Instructors membership renewal is due. Staying current ensures your voice and experience continue to shape instructor standards, course development, and educational policy across the state.
Membership supports:
Advocacy for instructor recognition and certification standards.
Access to training opportunities, conference discounts, and instructor resources.
Networking with peers who share your same challenges and passion for teaching.
👉 Renew today to stay connected and continue supporting the mission of advancing fire and EMS education in Wisconsin. Renew Your Membership Here