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1. What are the steps to join the fire department?

Being a member of the Grafton Fire Department can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. Membership in our organization does require an extensive amount of initial training, continuous education, on-call availability and some personal sacrifice. The steps for joining are:

1. Submit an initial interest form here
2. The Fire Chief or designee will set up an initial meet-and-greet to explain the needs of the department and our operations.
3. If interested in joining, you will receive an application for membership.
4. Once the application is returned to the department, there is an initial review and background investigation.
5. A follow-up meeting/interview may be conducted with the Fire Chief or designee.
6. If selected for membership, you will be enrolled in certification class (if not already certified) and an orientation session will be held.

2. What are the training requirements to be a member?

Members are required to attend initial certification training (if not already certified) in addition to continuing in-house training, as well as regular on-call availability. Firefighters are required to complete a minimum of 36 hours per year of training, following initial certification. EMTs, Advanced EMTs and Paramedics are required to attend enough training hours to maintain their license level throughout the three year renewal period. Required hours are dictated by the State of WI and the EMS Medical Director. All licensed EMTs/AEMTs/Paramedics are also required to attend mandatory skills checks twice per year (generally in April and October). 

For new members without previous certification(s) in firefighting or EMS, the department will sponsor and pay for certification training through the local technical college (MATC). New members will choose one of the following paths:

1. Basic firefighting certification (Firefighter 1) is approximately 96 hours of classroom and hands-on training over the course of a semester. It is generally two nights per week (Mondays & Wednesdays from 6pm-10pm) for the entire semester. Fall semester classes begin at the end of August and conclude in the middle of December. Spring semester classes begin in mid-January and conclude in mid-May. In addition, firefighter candidates are required to complete Hazardous Materials-Operations. Hazmat Ops is an additional 6 classes (Tuesdays from 6pm-9pm) taken concurrently with Firefighter 1. Firefighter 1 students are required to take and pass the State of WI final certification written and practical exams at the conclusion of the course.
2. Basic Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training is approximately 180 hours of classroom and hands-on training over the course of a semester. It is generally two, sometimes three nights per week (Mondays & Wednesdays, with some Tuesdays from 6pm-10pm) for the entire semester. Fall semester classes begin at the end of August and conclude in the middle of December. Spring semester classes begin in mid-January and conclude in mid-May. EMT students are required to take and pass the National Registry final written and practical exams at the conclusion of the course. 

For new members with previous certification(s) in firefighting or EMS, the department will work with you to transfer your licenses/certifications to our department and then orientate you to our policies, procedures and equipment. Not all certifications/licenses transfer from state-to-state, so we will assist you in navigating the process. If a certification/license does not transfer, you may be required to retake a course.

We always encourage members to achieve certifications beyond the basics and will work with you to create a pathway towards additional certifications.

3. What is the on-call schedule?

Paid-on-call members are assigned to one of the four duty crews. Each duty crew is responsible for calls during their assigned hours on a rotating basis. During the week (Monday-Friday), duty crew members are expected to respond from 6pm-6am (12 hours). On weekends (Saturday & Sunday) the shifts are 6am-6am (24 hours). During their scheduled time, duty crew members are expected to be available and within a reasonable response distance to the fire station (generally no more than 5 minutes away).

Example: You are assigned Duty Crew 1. Duty Crew 1 is on-call this Monday from 6pm-6am. DC1 members are then off-duty Tuesday-Thursday and would then be on-call Friday from 6pm-6am. The following week, DC1 would be on-call Tuesday night and all day Saturday. 

What happens if I have other commitments during my on-call time? The department understands that our members have lives outside of our organization. In order to maintain adequate coverage of on-call hours, we encourage members to trade hours with someone from one of the other three duty crews and/or work with your duty crew Lieutenant or Captain to find coverage.

4. Do I need to have previous experience in the Fire / EMS Service to join?

No, the Grafton Fire Department will provide you with training to become a Firefighter or EMT.

5. How much does the training, gear, etc. cost?

The cost of gear exceeds $2000 per member. The cost of initial training varies by course; anywhere from $200-$1500 per student. The Grafton Fire Department covers all tuition, books and other fees associated with certification training and will provide you with all necessary Fire / EMS gear.