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1. How many calls does the Grafton Fire Department respond to in a year?

As Grafton and surrounding areas have continued to grow, our call volume has significantly increased. In 2022, the Grafton Fire Department responded to over 2,100 emergency calls (approximately 6 calls per day). For comparison, the department responded to just over 1,000 calls in 2013.

2. If I call the fire department/ambulance, will I be charged?

In almost all cases, there is a bill associated with EMS calls. The bill is initially sent to your insurance company through our third-party billing agency. The total bill varies based on skills performed by EMS providers, medications administered, equipment used and travel distance to the hospital. The amount covered by insurance also varies based the your individual insurance policy. 

The fire department rarely bills for fire calls, however we reserve the right to do so in very limited circumstances. In general, a bill may be sent if a hazardous material is released or if alarm systems repeatedly send false alarms.

3. Why did the dispatcher ask so many questions when I called 9-1-1?

Dispatchers have certain questions that they ask in order to make sure that the appropriate resources are sent to an emergency. In addition, Ozaukee County participates in a program known as Emergency Medical Dispatching (EMD). EMD is a series of scripted questions that allow the dispatcher to triage calls, send appropriate resources with the appropriate response, and provide pre-arrival/post-dispatch instructions as needed. The Ozaukee County Dispatch Center has multiple dispatchers working simultaneously, so while one is asking questions and providing instructions to the caller, a second dispatcher will notify and communicate with emergency services.

4. I live in Grafton, but why did an ambulance/fire engine from another community respond to my house?

When multiple calls occur simultaneously or within a short period of time, communities rely on a system known as mutual aid. Mutual aid allows one community to assist another. When both Grafton ambulances are busy or a major incident occurs, such as a mass casualty or structure fire, additional resources are requested from neighboring communities. Most fire departments nationwide (including large cities like Chicago and Milwaukee) send and receive mutual aid from other area departments on a regular basis. Resources and staffing vary by department, however they all have limits.

Although it is rare to respond outside of Ozaukee County, Grafton has provided resources to other departments as far away as Kenosha County, Waukesha County and Racine County for major incidents in recent years.

5. Can I tour the fire station?

Absolutely! Each year during Fire Prevention Week (October) we have a large Open House event with tours, activities for kids and demonstrations of our equipment. In addition, we welcome community groups and individuals to stop in throughout the year. To schedule a tour, please contact our Administrative Assistant during normal business hours at 262-375-5314.

6. How is the Grafton Fire Department staffed?

The Grafton Fire Department uses a combination staffing model to ensure that members are regularly available to respond to emergency calls. Here are the general staffing levels:

• Monday-Friday from 8am-6pm (10 hours), 2 part-time Firefighter/EMTs or Firefighter/Paramedics are at the station along with 2 full-time Firefighter/Paramedics that work 6am-6am (24 hours). In addition, the Fire Chief and Assistant Fire Chief generally work a quasi-standard 40 hour work week.
• Monday-Friday from 6pm-6am (12  hour shifts) and weekends (24 hour shifts) are staffed by the 2 full-time Firefighter/Paramedics and various paid-on-call members. Most paid-on-call members respond from home during these times.

7. Can I burn (bonfire, grill, etc.) or have a fire pit in Grafton?

I LIVE IN THE VILLAGE OF GRAFTON- Open burning and bonfires are prohibited within the Village limits. Portable fire pits and grills are allowed under certain conditions. To view the conditions, please follow this link to the Village of Grafton Burning ordinance: https://ecode360.com/35126571

I LIVE IN THE TOWN OF GRAFTON- Open burning and bonfires are allowed within the Town of Grafton. Responsible burning in compliance with Wisconsin statute is required. The "Can I Burn?" online tool from the WI DNR can assist you in determining whether your planned burn is allowed. The tool can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/29W9VYS

Additional responsible burning info can be found here: https://townofgraftonwi.gov/burning/

If you still have questions, please contact our department and we will be happy to assist.

8. How do I get more information about joining the fire department?

Check out our Recruitment Page!

9. How many stations and members does the department have?

The Grafton Fire Department operates out of a single station and is staffed by approximately 60 members. Through a cooperative agreement with the Village of Saukville, the Grafton Fire Department has the ability to share equipment, staff and other support functions with the Saukville Fire Department. The two departments also have an automatic aid agreement, have a combined training schedule and have the same standard operating procedures/guidelines (SOPs/SOGs).

The Saukville Fire Department operates out of one station and is staffed by approximately 30 members.