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Fire Department Services EMS Fire Prevention Fire Safety Fire Inspections Fire Operations CPAT CPR/AED Fire Department Resources After a Fire	The West Allis Fire Department was organized in 1906, in the wake of the rapid expansion of the Allis-Chalmers Corporation, and the organization of the city. The department began as a group of volunteers, borrowing horses from local residents, to move their chemical wagon and hand-pumper to the scene of an alarm. The "call-to-arms" was signaled by the Allis-Chalmers whistle, and responders used wooden fireplugs and cisterns as their water sources. The department remained strictly volunteer until 1922, when five full-time "firemen" were hired to maintain the department’s equipment, and get it to the scene of an emergency. The city began to use a "call-man" system, which was similar to many of the "paid –on-call" departments currently in use. In 1925, the West Allis Fire Department became completely full-time. "Firemen" were required to work three 24-hour shifts to receive one full day off. They could not leave the city without permission from the Chief, and only a limited number were given that privilege. The department occupied a single station at the intersection of S. 73^rd Street and W. National Avenue. By this time, the department no longer relied upon local horses, but maintained five various types of fire apparatus, two of which had inflatable tires. The department moved one block to the west in 1930, to make way for the construction of a new police department headquarters. In 1998, the police moved to a new station on the city’s west end, but Engine 1 and Med 1 continue to provide service from the fire department’s former headquarters. In 1954 the City of West Allis annexed land to the west from the town of Wauwatosa, and south from the town of Greenfield. The annexations doubled the city’s size, and required the expansion of the fire department. Over the next few years, the city built two more fire stations and increased staffing to nearly 150 members. The City was thriving with industry, new homes and one of the lowest tax rates in the state. But over the course of time, the profile of the city began to change, and so did the appearance of the fire department. Fortunately, the consistent, cooperative efforts of fire department administrators, union officials, local politicians, and businesses have helped keep the department proficient. Advancements in prehospital medical care prompted department, local and Milwaukee County officials to train West Allis firefighters to staff the first paramedic unit in the county in 1973. Ten units have since joined the program along with two paramedic engine companies. Milwaukee county paramedics treat over 35,000 people annually, ironically using a program that began as a "political hot potato". In 1985, West Allis opened the state’s first "Survive Alive" house to teach fire safety techniques to local school children. The house has provided a formal instructional setting for over 30,000 students and has been a model for similar houses throughout Wisconsin. In recognition of the city’s major transportation routes, the department organized level B hazardous materials training for all members. A training site has been developed for confined space instruction, and a "special hazards team" was formed to provide advance techniques at haz-mat, ice rescue, high-angle rescue and confined space emergencies. Firefighters have found that public relations, good political relationships and the assistance of local businesses have been beneficial. Over the years, fundraising efforts by department and union members have provided residents with the services of the city’s first paramedic vehicle, semiautomatic defibrillators, the Survive Alive program, CPR courses and local wheel-chair ramps. Firefighters have made substantial contributions to the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Child Abuse Prevention Fund among other groups. The fire department trains its own members, provides city fire inspections and operates its own maintenance bureau. Department members conduct numerous fire safety, juvenile and senior safety, industrial and health programs annually. New programs are continuously being developed to adapt to the changing needs of the community. Department administrators have worked with union reps to assure that engine and ladder company staffing levels never fall below four members. Paramedic and fire-rescue units are staffed with three personnel each day. All companies operate with both a qualified officer and equipment operator. For all fire alarms, the department dispatches at least two engines, one ladder company, one rescue unit and a chief officer. No fire alarm is attended by fewer than 16 fire fighters. West Allis firefighters protect an area of just over 11 square miles, housing 61,254 residents; more than twice the population of 1954. Since the department’s expansion that year, the number of alarms received has doubled. Advancement in production materials and transportation has created a variety of changes in the way firefighters respond to these calls for help. Yet, similar to most municipal fire department, overall staffing reductions have been the response to public demands to reduce taxes. In 1995, twenty percent fewer firefighters protected the city than in 1954. The West Allis Fire Department Today The Department currently operates with 8 fire companies consisting of 3 engines and 2 aerial ladder trucks, 2 fire rescue companies, and one paramedic unit. The Department operates a technical rescue team that provides hazardous materials mitigation, confined space rescue and recovery, ice and water rescue, and low-angle rescue. The Department provides maintenance for all apparatus and emergency vehicles, as well as certified maintenance and repairs for all self-contained breathing apparatus. The Department operates one advanced life support unit, which services small portions of the City of Milwaukee as well as the entire City of West Allis. All members of the Department are state-licensed emergency medical technicians, and fifteen members are state-licensed paramedics. All West Allis Fire Department companies operate around-the-clock with 3 shifts of personnel. These companies are housed in 3 fire stations located throughout the City. Support facilities include the vehicle and equipment maintenance facility, the Fire Training facility, the offices of fire prevention, inspection and public education all located at the main facility, Fire Station No. 2, located at 2040 S. 67^th Place. The Emergency Dispatch Center is located within the Police and Municipal Court facility, at 11300 W. Lincoln Avenue, as is the Office of the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners, the governing body of the Fire Department, exercising optional powers by authority of City Ordinance and Wisconsin Statutes. There are currently 119 authorized positions in the Department. There are 118 uniformed personnel, consisting of 1 Fire Chief, 1 Deputy Fire Chief, 5 Battalion Fire Chiefs, 9 Captains, 18 Lieutenants, 24 Equipment Operators, and 60 Firefighters. There is 1 civilian principal secretary (who also serves as recording secretary for the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners). The Department also employs one part-time clerical staff member, who is funded by a high school co-op grant. The Fire Department provides a wide range of services to the community. The Types of Services Rendered table at the end of this section reflects the variety of emergency services and support functions provided by the Department.	Fire Department (414) 302-8900 (414) 302-8927 fax Email Fire Chief Steven J. Hook West Allis Fire Department Administration Building 7332 W. National Ave. Map Fire Station 1 7300 W. National Ave. Map Fire Station 2 2040 S. 67th Place Map Fire Station 3 10830 W. Lapham St. Map CFAI Accredited Agency since August, 2003
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Fire Department

The West Allis Fire Department was organized in 1906, in the wake of the rapid expansion of the Allis-Chalmers Corporation, and the organization of the city. The department began as a group of volunteers, borrowing horses from local residents, to move their chemical wagon and hand-pumper to the scene of an alarm. The "call-to-arms" was signaled by the Allis-Chalmers whistle, and responders used wooden fireplugs and cisterns as their water sources.

The department remained strictly volunteer until 1922, when five full-time "firemen" were hired to maintain the department’s equipment, and get it to the scene of an emergency. The city began to use a "call-man" system, which was similar to many of the "paid –on-call" departments currently in use.

In 1925, the West Allis Fire Department became completely full-time. "Firemen" were required to work three 24-hour shifts to receive one full day off. They could not leave the city without permission from the Chief, and only a limited number were given that privilege. The department occupied a single station at the intersection of S. 73^rd Street and W. National Avenue. By this time, the department no longer relied upon local horses, but maintained five various types of fire apparatus, two of which had inflatable tires.

The department moved one block to the west in 1930, to make way for the construction of a new police department headquarters. In 1998, the police moved to a new station on the city’s west end, but Engine 1 and Med 1 continue to provide service from the fire department’s former headquarters.

In 1954 the City of West Allis annexed land to the west from the town of Wauwatosa, and south from the town of Greenfield. The annexations doubled the city’s size, and required the expansion of the fire department. Over the next few years, the city built two more fire stations and increased staffing to nearly 150 members. The City was thriving with industry, new homes and one of the lowest tax rates in the state.

But over the course of time, the profile of the city began to change, and so did the appearance of the fire department. Fortunately, the consistent, cooperative efforts of fire department administrators, union officials, local politicians, and businesses have helped keep the department proficient.

Advancements in prehospital medical care prompted department, local and Milwaukee County officials to train West Allis firefighters to staff the first paramedic unit in the county in 1973. Ten units have since joined the program along with two paramedic engine companies. Milwaukee county paramedics treat over 35,000 people annually, ironically using a program that began as a "political hot potato".

In 1985, West Allis opened the state’s first "Survive Alive" house to teach fire safety techniques to local school children. The house has provided a formal instructional setting for over 30,000 students and has been a model for similar houses throughout Wisconsin.

In recognition of the city’s major transportation routes, the department organized level B hazardous materials training for all members. A training site has been developed for confined space instruction, and a "special hazards team" was formed to provide advance techniques at haz-mat, ice rescue, high-angle rescue and confined space emergencies.

Firefighters have found that public relations, good political relationships and the assistance of local businesses have been beneficial. Over the years, fundraising efforts by department and union members have provided residents with the services of the city’s first paramedic vehicle, semiautomatic defibrillators, the Survive Alive program, CPR courses and local wheel-chair ramps. Firefighters have made substantial contributions to the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Child Abuse Prevention Fund among other groups.

The fire department trains its own members, provides city fire inspections and operates its own maintenance bureau. Department members conduct numerous fire safety, juvenile and senior safety, industrial and health programs annually. New programs are continuously being developed to adapt to the changing needs of the community.

Department administrators have worked with union reps to assure that engine and ladder company staffing levels never fall below four members. Paramedic and fire-rescue units are staffed with three personnel each day. All companies operate with both a qualified officer and equipment operator. For all fire alarms, the department dispatches at least two engines, one ladder company, one rescue unit and a chief officer. No fire alarm is attended by fewer than 16 fire fighters.

West Allis firefighters protect an area of just over 11 square miles, housing 61,254 residents; more than twice the population of 1954. Since the department’s expansion that year, the number of alarms received has doubled. Advancement in production materials and transportation has created a variety of changes in the way firefighters respond to these calls for help. Yet, similar to most municipal fire department, overall staffing reductions have been the response to public demands to reduce taxes. In 1995, twenty percent fewer firefighters protected the city than in 1954.

The West Allis Fire Department Today

The Department currently operates with 8 fire companies consisting of 3 engines and 2 aerial ladder trucks, 2 fire rescue companies, and one paramedic unit. The Department operates a technical rescue team that provides hazardous materials mitigation, confined space rescue and recovery, ice and water rescue, and low-angle rescue.

The Department provides maintenance for all apparatus and emergency vehicles, as well as certified maintenance and repairs for all self-contained breathing apparatus. The Department operates one advanced life support unit, which services small portions of the City of Milwaukee as well as the entire City of West Allis. All members of the Department are state-licensed emergency medical technicians, and fifteen members are state-licensed paramedics. All West Allis Fire Department companies operate around-the-clock with 3 shifts of personnel.

These companies are housed in 3 fire stations located throughout the City. Support facilities include the vehicle and equipment maintenance facility, the Fire Training facility, the offices of fire prevention, inspection and public education all located at the main facility, Fire Station No. 2, located at 2040 S. 67^th Place. The Emergency Dispatch Center is located within the Police and Municipal Court facility, at 11300 W. Lincoln Avenue, as is the Office of the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners, the governing body of the Fire Department, exercising optional powers by authority of City Ordinance and Wisconsin Statutes.

There are currently 119 authorized positions in the Department. There are 118 uniformed personnel, consisting of 1 Fire Chief, 1 Deputy Fire Chief, 5 Battalion Fire Chiefs, 9 Captains, 18 Lieutenants, 24 Equipment Operators, and 60 Firefighters. There is 1 civilian principal secretary (who also serves as recording secretary for the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners). The Department also employs one part-time clerical staff member, who is funded by a high school co-op grant.

The Fire Department provides a wide range of services to the community. The Types of Services Rendered table at the end of this section reflects the variety of emergency services and support functions provided by the Department.