Moraine Park Technical College’s Fire/EMT program has received a generous donation from Woodland Fire Department. Last fall, the Woodland Fire Department announced their plans to cease their community services and made plans to donate their department fire engine to Moraine Park. The engine was presented to the College on Monday, March 22 during a small event at the Woodland Fire Department.  

“We hope this donation will help Moraine Park fill the industry with new firefighters,” Tony Roethle, Woodland Fire Department Chief, said. “There is a need for volunteer firefighters- without them, fire stations simply can’t survive.”  

This year, the College has an increased number of students in the firefighter certification courses, and in mid-May, they will undergo their testing to become certified.  

“We are pleased to see this increase,” Barb Jascor, Dean of Health and Human Services said. “We have been working hard to promote and support our local fire departments, and we hope to continue to see enrollments increase in the future as well.”  

The College will use the donation for hands-on student learning, which will help students learn on equipment comparable to what they will see on the job.  

“The donation of the fire truck complements the existing simulation equipment used for Fire/EMT students,” Barb Jascor, Dean of Health and Human Services said. “Currently, we have both a full-sized ambulance and apartment, along with high fidelity patient simulators, that many of our health and human service programs utilize for simulations. The addition of the fire truck allows further hands-on training for both existing and future firefighters throughout the Moraine Park district.”  

The ambulance and apartment simulation were added last summer, as part of the Beaver Dam campus remodel project, and have been a vital addition to the curriculum. 

“Hands-on learning offers an easy pathway from the classroom to career,” Jascor said. “We rely on our community partnerships, and the generosity of the Woodland Fire Department will directly impact fire training offered within our district for many years.”  

The Woodland Fire Department ceased operations effective January 1, 2021, and staff who elected to relocate are serving the Iron Ridge and Neosho departments. Additionally, Hartford, Iron Ridge and Neosho Fire Departments are now serving the community of Woodland. 

For more information on Moraine Park’s Fire Certification Training, visit morainepark.edu.

The Waupun Fire Department has graciously allowed Moraine Park students in the entry-level firefighter and certified firefighter classes to use their training facility to practice various skill evaluations.  These are vital skills and techniques to keep the fire ground safe and it provides students with the opportunity to practice what they’ve learned in the classroom.

We wish the certified firefighter candidates good luck at their upcoming state practical exams, and we extend a big thank you to the Waupun Fire Department and numerous other individuals who volunteer their time to make this training possible and safe for the students.

To learn more about Moraine Park, visit morainepark.edu.

The Firefighter II Certification class participated in training as part of their program. The class was hosted by the Allenton Fire Department. Students in the class are from local fire departments such as; Allenton, Mayville, Neosho, North Fond du Lac, Town of Fond du Lac, Boltonville, and Random Lake.

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Ever wonder what it takes to be a firefighter?

Recently, 18 students in our Entry Level Firefighter 1 class, hosted by the Town of Fond du Lac Fire Department (TFDL FD), participated in a skills practice day. This day is designed to practice skills needed in the field and for State certification.

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