Fennimore EMS Chief Brian Heisz is hoping history repeats itself as it was in an article in the Fennimore Times in the spring of 2012 about the need for more local EMS volunteers that had him become involved with the Fennimore EMS.
At that time, the squad had around 10 members, and shortly after that article was published, he was one of nine new volunteers to the squad.
“I saw the need for the help, so reached out to the chief at the time and volunteered,” Heisz explained.
Now, fast forward to January 2025 and the Fennimore EMS currently again has 10 active members, and is again looking for more.
“We need help,” Heisz simply put.
Demand has increased from a yearly average of around 200 calls a year, to 2024’s total of 338.
“We have a good, active crew right now,” Heisz said, “But we’re really only at about a third of the way volunteer wise to cover what we need.”
According to Heisz, it takes nearly 1,460 hours a month to staff one ambulance 24 hours a day with two people.
Therefore, it would take 28 people on call for 50 hours per month to meet the 1,460 hours. And as mentioned earlier, right now, the squad roster stands at 10 volunteers.
“Daytime hours are a struggle with most people working and some are working out of town,” Heisz further explained. “Volunteer service state and nationwide are experiencing shortages, so it’s a problem almost everywhere, but it hits harder when it’s at home.
“We don’t receive municipal funding, so all our money comes from generous donations, fundraisers, grants, and patient billing to cover operating, schooling and equipment upgrades,” Heisz went on to say. “But it’s not so much about the money, it’s getting people into the trucks.”
Heisz said he’s reached out to state legislators again not asking so much about funding, but rather ideas for volunteer recruitment.
The Fennimore EMS co-sponsors training with Southwest Wisconsin Technical College so there is no out of pocket expense for anyone who wishes to volunteer and receive training. Heisz went on to say there’s multiple opportunities for training for both day and evening classes.
Heisz’s volunteers on the current squad have also come from his own home as his wife, Jenifer, and son, Nic, are current active members.
“Living in our house they saw the need as well, “Heisz explained. Nic has even taken his volunteering a step further and made it into a career as he is a paramedic.
But even with his family’s help, the need for volunteers is still an issue.
“If local volunteer services can’t continue, municipalities will have to contract out and that can become a tax burden,” Heisz explained.
For example, in March 2023, Cuba City contracted with Southwest Health for EMS coverage, ending the long-running volunteer department in Cuba City after nearly 50 years in operation, citing staffing and funding issues.
As stated before, volunteer services everywhere are experiencing staffing shortages and the Fennimore EMS is in need.
If anyone is interested, has questions, feel free to e-mail Fennimore EMS Chief Brian Heisz at frschief@gmail.com.
