Fire and Ambulance Services

In the event of an emergency dial 911. Emergency services are dispatched out of the Marathon County dispatch center. Ambulance service comes from the Marshfield Fire and Rescue. Fire and first responder services are provided by members of our volunteer fire department.

The McMillan Fire Station is located at the intersection of Galvin Avenue and Elm Street near the center of the town. We currently have one ladder truck, two pumpers, a new tanker, a pickup, and a first responder equipment vehicle. We also have two ATV’s equipped for fighting grass fires and a snow rescue unit. The department also has a large portable water pump used for filling trucks from ponds.

The department has water access locations throughout the town at ponds equipped with dry hydrants. (This allows for year round access to water .) They can also fill within the fire station and at city hydrants. In rural fire protection, getting water to the fire is the biggest challenge. Most rural departments have two tankers. The availability of water, the equipment used, and the training the department receives go into the ISO rating. This rating is used by insurance companies to determine our insurance premiums. Maintaining a modern state-of-the-art department ensures that our residents receive the best rates available.

The Town of McMillan also has mutual aid agreements with surrounding fire departments. In the event of a major fire additional equipment and personnel are called in.

Your Volunteer Fire Department
24/7 your property and lives are protected by a group of dedicated volunteers. In the United States 72% of all firefighters are volunteers. Nationally there are over 700,000 individuals volunteering time to train, maintain equipment, and be available to respond to emergencies at any time, day or night.

The Town of McMillan’s Volunteer Fire Department has a long history of service. Today we have 30 dedicated men and women providing protection to the residents of the town; They are leaders in our community. A few of our firefighters are not residents of McMillan. They provide us with the same dedication and ownership as do our own resident firefighters. These individuals, supplementing our residents, have had a very positive impact on our fire department’s function over the years.

Our volunteer firefighters meet at least once a month to maintain and upgrade their skills. This is designed to ensure a high level of proficiency in the use of fire apparatus and reinforce fire suppression skills Some members also have special training. The department has four members who received Practical Ice Rescue Technical Level certification.

In addition, many members of our department are also first responders and attend first responder meetings on a monthly basis. These individuals will frequently be the first trained individuals to the aid of a victim. They can help stabilize the situation and assist the ambulance crew and family.

Members of our department are not only there in emergencies. They educate our community, donate time for repair and up-keep of their equipment and participate in remodeling and up-grade projects within the fire station. The members and their families participate in fundraisers such as the Children’s Miracle Network and of course our annual Fall Festival. Many of these same individuals have supported the Parks’ Committee with uncounted hours of work on the many park projects. This level of dedication and willingness to serve has been shown over the years in a wide variety of community projects. Get to know you firefighters. Come support your firefighters and participate in this year’s annual Fall Festival being held in early September.

Fire Numbers
Every home in the town has an assigned fire number. This number is crucial in locating your home in the event of a fire or other emergency. The sign is located in a standardized place where emergency responders can easily locate it day or night. Please do not move it. Tampering with this sign can place your family at risk. If you have removed the sign, please replace it. The fire number is your address, but house numbers are often not visible especially at night. Having these signs in a consistent place is essential. If you do not have a posted fire number, please contact our clerk immediately at 389-1338.

When I dial 911, what information should I give the dispatcher?
Do not use the non emergency number to request an ambulance. Dial 911!
Accurate, concise information is essential when 911 is called. What you say is as important as the call itself.

1. Stay calm! Speak slowly and clearly.
2. Give the name, fire number, and full address. It may be helpful to say “ in the Town of McMillan.” Also identify who is making the call.
3. For fire calls say what has happened, type of structure fire, and any pertinent information. (For example: There are people inside. The house is full of smoke. The second story is engulfed.)
4. For auto accidents give the exact location of the accident in relationship to your fire number. If calling from a cell phone, give a location as close as possible to any known land mark. (For example: The accident is on Galvin Avenue, 2 miles south of Highway C ) or use a resident’s fire number. Tell what has happened, the number of autos involved, the type and number of injuries. STAY ON THE LINE!
5. For medical emergencies say what has happened. Give your full address and fire number. Tell dispatcher any pertinent medical information. ( For example: The individual is not breathing.) STAY ON THE LINE!
6. If at all possible stay on the line so additional information can be obtained if needed. The information you give will determine the type of equipment and personnel dispatched. In these situations it is essential that the caller stay on the line, giving additional information and directions until the emergency response team arrives.

A Note to Residents Regarding Insurance Coverage
Check your insurance policies. How much will your insurance company pay in the event of a fire call to your residence? Most standard policies only pay $500 for a fire call. An average fire call for a major fire in McMillan can cost a resident in the two to three thousand dollar range. The resident is billed the full expense for man power and supplies used at the fire. Most structural fires involve several departments responding and, in some major fires such as farm structures, additional equipment is often called in. For only a few dollars a year, most policies offer a rider that will give you adequate coverage.

Burning Permits and Open Burning
A burning permit is required to burn brush, grass or other clean materials. Please contact the town clerk for authorization not more then 24 hours prior to burning. By ordinance all open burning shall be performed in a safe pollution-free manner, when wind and weather conditions are such as to minimize adverse effects. Open burning shall not be used covertly to burn refuse, garbage, plastic, construction debris or other prohibited materials. The materials being burned shall be at least 50 feet away from any structure unless in an approved burning device at least 15 feet from any structure. No burning is allowed on the public right-of -way. State law restricts burning on Sundays and holidays. Please be considerate of your neighbors when burning any material. Be aware of wind direction and conditions when burning. During dry conditions be sure to check if burning bans are in effect. Open burning (not in a container) is restricted much of the year.

New Equipment
The McMillan Fire Department has been fortunate to be able to add new equipment to the department. Some of this equipment has replaced older units and some are new pieces that will enhance the department’s ability to provide needed service. In the fall of 2004 two Polaris ATVs with water tanks were added. The two four wheelers (purchased from Fall Festival funds) increase the effectiveness of the department in fighting grass fires. The McMillan Wildlife Area with its many walking and bike trails poses a challenging, potential fire risk. Rapid early deployment to a fire is essential. With millions of dollars of residential property built around the wildlife area, the ability to fight a grass or brush fire early, at its source, is essential to reducing the exposure of private structures. The four wheelers will also give our rescue unit year round capability for assisting at not only snowmobile but also hiking and hunting accidents.

A new 1 ton pickup truck was added, replacing an aging unit. This truck will be used to transport our mobile pump used to load our tanker trucks from ponds throughout the township. It will also be used to transport our snowmobile and ATV rescue units and the ATV brush fire response unit. This vehicle was also purchased with Fall Festival funds. In 2005 the township placed on line a new state-of-the-art tanker truck. This new tanker was designed and constructed by Stainless and Repair of Marshfield and placed on an International truck from Mid State Truck. Members of the McMillan Fire Department spent countless hours working with these two companies designing a unit that meets our department’s needs. This unit replaces a truck with a 42 year old converted milk truck tank that didn’t have baffles to control the water. This new unit has many advantages. It is very user friendly, loads and dumps easier and faster, turns shorter and has all the latest safety features. This equipment allows for a more rapid turn around to a fire scene. That is the time it takes to load, unload and travel from a water source to the fire scene.

Thanks for Supporting the McMillan Fall Festival
A special thank you to all who support the department at the McMillan Fall Festival. This event is put on by the McMillan Fire Department volunteers, their families and supportive residents early each September. All proceeds go to the department to purchase needed equipment without the use of tax dollars. Over the years tens of thousands of dollars have been raised. Those of you who came to the festival saw the list of equipment purchased with fall festival funds. The latest is the new 4WD Ford pickup used to pull the Water Hog (pump used to fill the tankers), the rescue sled, or the four wheelers. Two new four wheelers were also purchased from festival funds to increase the effectiveness of the department in fighting grass fires.

Public Safety
Ambulance service is contracted from Marshfield and currently we have no say over the costs. The debt on our fire station is nearly paid. We have a well-equipped and trained fire department and first responder core. We have dedicated well-trained volunteers. Our fire department gives us a great dollar value. They dedicate their free time to put on the Fall Festival, raising funds that do not have to come out of our taxes. The fire and safety department decreases our insurance costs and provides us with the emergency help we may someday need.