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©2000-2010 Village Of Plover
Designed & Maintained By
The Village of Plover

 

VILLAGE OF PLOVER
FIRE/EMS DEPARTMENT

Hours: 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
Location: Plover Municipal Building, 2400 Post Road
Telephone: (715) 345-5310
Fire Chief: Tim Kluck
Email: tkluck@ploverwi.gov

Fire Hose Divider Bar

Village of Plover Fire Department
“The Growth of a Community Service”

1949 to 2008
by:  Fire Chief, Tim Kluck, February 2008

Prior to 1949, an all volunteer department protected the citizens of Plover.  In the spring of 1949, the Charter members of the Town of Plover Fire Department began to organize and provide fire services with one fire truck.  These original members included; Lloyd Phelps, Don Mansavage, Ed Stump, and Ray Tomczak.

On July 5, 1951, the Village of Plover Fire Department became an official volunteer fire department within Portage County and the State of Wisconsin.  The department was located at the intersection of Post Road and Willow Drive.  Fire Chief Lloyd Phelps was responsible for the department oversight.  Chief Phelps served the department in the role of Fire Chief until 1966.  In early 1952 an alerting siren was purchased and affixed to a pole at the department to assist firefighters in responding to incidents. 

May 9, 1957, the department received a 1949 Packard combination hearse and ambulance which was purchased in Elkhorn, WI.  The cost of the ambulance was $800.00.  In July 1957, an ambulance committee was formed to discuss various aspects of the operation of the ambulance.  The cost for the ambulance in 1957 was $5.00, and 10 cents per/mile for Plover residents.   1958 saw the addition of a resuscitator for the ambulance personnel to use (from funds donated from the 9th Annual Fireman’s Festival).

In the early 1960’s, the department began providing contract fire services for a portion of the Town of Grant.  This service was in addition to already existing contract services to the Town of Plover, Town of Buena Vista and the Town of Stockton.  In 1966, Fire Chief Glen Sterling became responsible for department oversight.  Chief Sterling served the department as Fire Chief until 1974.  1968 saw the end to ambulance service provided by the department due to increasing state requirements and lack of funding issues.

In 1974, the department selected Fire Chief Joe Radomski to head up the organization. Throughout the period of the 70’s, the department continued to experience significant growth, increased response to incidents and increased training requirements.  Fire Chief Joe Radomski and department members continued to upgrade many services and equipment throughout this period including the addition of portable radios.  On Saturday, October 4, 1975, the department took delivery of a new engine which replaced the 1952 model pumper.  The new engine had a 750 gallon a minute pump.  The department also took delivery of a new brush truck this same year.  This brought the total number of apparatus to five trucks (two engines, two tankers and one brush unit).  In late 1978, the department began making plans to move into the new municipal center which was to be built over the next few years.

On October 18, 1980, the department participated in the dedication of the new municipal center, which included general Village offices, an activity center and Police and Fire Department office space.  The new facility provided the department with additional space for fire trucks as the department continued to grow and expand its services.

April 1983, saw the development of a 1st Responder emergency medical services program for the department.  Fourteen (14) firefighters and police officers participated in training.  On September 13, 1984 the department began providing 1st Responder services with sixteen (16) members.  These members responded to a total of 53 incidents in their first year of existence.  In 2007 the Department’s 1st Responder program responded to a total of 706 incidents. 

A new fire engine was added to the Department on November 17, 1983.  The 1,000 gallon per minute engine holds 750 gallons of water and was built by Gruman Mfg., of Roanoke, Va.  Chief Radomski placed the unit in service within one week of deliver, following extensive training of Fire Department staff.

Joe Radomski became the first full-time paid Fire Chief for the Village of Plover on January 1, 1984.  The Village Board decision to make the position full-time was based on the “increasing number of fire inspections necessary, size of the department and to provide greater efficiency, according to George Bauman, Village operations director”.  Prior to this time, the position was part-time.  The department continued to upgrade services provided, adding Hazardous Material Level “B” Technicians and performing UST/AST Tank Inspections.

Things continued to develop and grow well as we move into the 90’s.  The addition of a Snorkel aerial ladder apparatus in 1991 and the “Jaws of Life” extrication tools brought the total number of apparatus to ten (three engines, three tankers, one wildland brush, one rescue, one HazMat, and one snorkel).   A second full-time position was added to the department in June 1991, when Assistant Fire Chief, Jeff Berry was hired.

The Village of Plover created a Police & Fire Commission in 1992, as called for by Wisconsin State Statutes (communities whose population exceeds 5,500 are required to create a Police & Fire Commission).   In December, 1992, the department receives the Insurance Service Office (ISO) rating of 3 for the Village of Plover.  

In 1994, the 1st Responder program began to utilize defibrillation units for cardiac incidents.  Also in 1995, Assistant Fire Chief, Jeff Berry resigned from Department to accept the position of Fire Chief with the City of Waupun.

In 1996, the 1st Responder program responded to a total of 260 incidents.  In July of 1996 the Village hired Dale Garski, who was hired as a Captain.

Entering the 21st century, several significant changes occurred in the department.  Fire Chief Joe Radomski retired from the Department in December 2003, following his tenure of 29 years as Fire Chief.  Chief Radomski is credited with significantly developing the department into one of the finest combination (i.e. career/paid-on-call) fire departments in the State of Wisconsin.  Chief Radomski also served as President of the Wisconsin State Fire Chief’s Association during the 90’s. 

On April 30, 2004, Fire Chief, Tim Kluck assumed the position of Fire Chief, representing the second person to serve as Fire Chief for the Village and its service area.  Chief Kluck previously was the Fire Chief for the City of Antigo from 1996-2004.  Prior to that he was a Firefighter/EMT for the City of Marshfield from 1984-1996.  Chief Kluck began his fire career as a volunteer firefighter for the Town of Hull Fire Department from 1979-1984.

In March, 2005 Chief Kluck fostered development of an automatic-aid agreement between the Village of Plover and Whiting, which calls for each municipality to immediately send the other department one engine and a minimum of six (6) firefighters to all structure fires.  This agreement ensures that additional personnel will be on-scene to fight fires immediately and was considered a vital safety issue for both communities.  This agreement initially grew out of the continued Village growth and development of the Crossroads Commons and Village Park at Plover developments.  

In December 31, 2006 the Department discontinued providing hazardous material level “B” coverage to Portage County, due to significant increase in training requirements for a service that is provided only a few times each year.  In 2006, the department joined the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS), Wisconsin Division 110, Portage County.  MABAS provides state wide mutual aid to all participating divisions, and mutual aid on a local basis from all participating Portage County Fire Departments. 

In December 31, 2007 the Town of Stockton ended its contract with the Village to provide fire protection service to the Town.  The Town of Stockton created its own Fire Department and began providing service on January 1, 2008.  Chief Kluck was instrumental in assisting the Town as it sought to develop its own Fire Department.  In the 2007 Annual Report to the Police & Fire Commission, Chief Kluck reported that the Fire Department responded to 921 incidents.   Of this total, 706 were 1st Responder/EMT incidents, and 215 were fire/rescue related. 

In 2008, the Village of Plover and City of Stevens Point are discussing the possibility of a joint purchase of a new aerial ladder platform.  In addition, Village of Plover, City of Stevens Point, Village of Whiting, Village of Park Ridge and Town of Hull have begun discussions about exploring the feasibility of forming a Metro Fire District.

As the Village of Plover Fire department looks forward, our number one goal is to ensure that we continue to provide the highest level of service to our customers at the most affordable cost.  We will continue to invest in our most valuable resource, our members through continuing education and training.  We will continue to investigate alternative methods to providing services with our neighboring municipalities.

Mission Statement:

The Mission of the Village of Plover Fire/EMS Department is to provide the highest quality proactive and reactive fire, EMS and rescue service of a modern nature. This service shall include, but not be limited to public education, inspections, fire prevention, EMS, assistance to law enforcement, training and fire suppression. These services will be provided via the most cost effective method as governed by the Police & Fire Commission, Village Board and Fire/EMS Department officers.

Organizational Values:

We believe and are committed to….

-Accountability
-Communication
-Community Service
-Customer Satisfaction
-Diversity
-Innovation
-Leadership & Teamwork
-Loyalty, Commitment, and Trust
-Professionalism
-Safety of Our Members
-Service Excellence
-Training Competency

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Village of Plover Fire/EMS Department consists of a full-time Fire Chief, a full-time Fire Captain and a combination of forty-five (45) "paid-on-call" firefighters and emergency medical technician (EMT) personnel who provide a wide variety of services including;

-Fire suppression
-Emergency medical services
-Vehicle extrication

-Confined space entry
-Wildland fire suppression
-Fire inspection program
-Public education program
-Collapse rescue

The department provides services to the Village of Plover, Village of Whiting (i.e. METRO FIRE DISTRICT), Town of Plover and Town of Buena Vista (i.e. CONTRACTED) and to all Portage County Fire Departments (i.e. MABAS).

METRO FIRE DISTRICT

In 2008, the Village of Plover and Village of Whiting authorized their Fire Chief's to investigate the possibility of enhancing the "single engine" joint response agreement for all structure fires since 2005. Following this process, on September 1, 2008, the METRO FIRE DISTRICT was implemented. METRO FIRE provides joint response between the Plover Fire/EMS Department and Whiting Fire and Rescue Department to all incidents in either Village. Response to incidents is based off a pre-determined apparatus response matrix ensuring an adequate number of apparatus and personnel respond in an efficient and effective manner.

MUTUAL AID BOX ALARM SYSTEM (MABAS)

The department continues to participate in the county-wide Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS), Division 110, Portage County. MABAS Wisconsin is the state wide mutual aid system which provides members additional resources during disasters or incidents which overwhelm local department capabilities.

JOINT AERIAL PURCHASE

In 2008, the Village of Plover and City of Stevens Point developed a "joint aerial agreement". This agreement provides for the City of Stevens Point to purchase a new aerial platform apparatus in 2009, with ½ funding coming from the Village of Plover. Stevens Point Fire Department will make the apparatus available to the Plover Fire/EMS Department when requested. Additionally, over a period of the next ten (10) years the Village of Plover will then replace their existing aerial platform when necessary, with ½ the funding coming from the City of Stevens Point. Plover Fire/EMS Department will then make their apparatus available to the Stevens Point Fire Department when requested. This agreement not only spreads the replacement costs for both municipalities over an extended period of time (i.e. 10-yrs.) while providing apparatus response unilaterally, but it additionally provides for a closer working relationship between both departments.

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTER GRANT (AFG)

In 2005 the department was awarded an AFG grant for $153,000 that enabled the department to obtain 27 SCBA, 40 sets of turnout gear, and 19 sets of turnout gear for the Stockton Fire Department. In 2006, the department was awarded another AFG grant for $98,000 that was used to purchase and install a new vehicle exhaust system. In December 2008, the department was notified that we were awarded another AFG grant for $52,331 to replace the department backup generator and purchase miscellaneous firefighting equipment.

With these awards the department has received a total of $303,331 from the AFG grant program. The AFG grant program requires 5% funding from the Village of Plover, with the remaining 95% funding provided by FEMA.

FIREFIGHTING APPARATUS FLEET

ENGINE 1 2005 HME 1500 GPM/1000 GAL
ENGINE 2 1997 HME 1500 GPM/1000 GAL
ENGINE 3 1985 GRUMAN 1000 GPM/750 GAL
PLATFORM 1 1983 PIERCE 100' AERIAL LADDER/2000 GPM/300 GAL
TENDER 1 1977 WELCH 1300 GAL
TENDER 2 1979 GMC 2500 GAL
TENDER 3 1975 GMC 1000 GAL
BRUSH 1 2008 FORD 200 GPM/300 GAL
RESCUE 1 1994 FORD RESCUE/CONFINED SPACE
UTILITY 1 1993 FORD COMMAND CENTER/REPEATER/GENERATOR
CAR 1 2006 FORD F-150 PICKUP
CAR 2 2005 CHEVEY IMPALA