The following are a series of commonly asked questions and their respective answers.
Q: Are all the firefighters in the Department volunteers?
A: Yes, all 42 members of the Department are volunteers except for the Fire Chief and Deputy Fire Chief/Fire Marshal.
Q: How many emergency situations does the Department respond to each year and how long is the average response time?
A: The Department responds to approximately 160 emergencies each year. The average response time is five minutes and 25 seconds. For emergencies within the Village of McFarland, the response time is four minutes and four seconds.
Q: Do volunteer fire fighters receive formal training?
A: Yes, the State of Wisconsin requires new firefighters to attend 60 hours of formal classroom and hands-on training before they can respond to fire emergencies. This training is paid for by the Department. In addition, the Department encourages firefighters to continue in other State certified courses and these are also paid for by the Department.
Q: How are volunteers trained on all the equipment?
A: The Department has training every Monday night throughout the year. All firefighters learn how to staff and operate all equipment. The Department also encourages outside training for more intense instruction on various aspects of firefighting.
Q: How do I go about becoming a volunteer on the McFarland Fire Department?
A: Contact Fire Chief Gary Garman at the McFarland Municipal Building, 5915 Milwaukee Street, P.O. Box 110, McFarland, WI 53558-0110.
Q: How can I make a donation to the McFarland Fire Department?
A: Donations can be sent to McFarland Fire Department, 5915 Milwaukee Street, P.O. Box 110, McFarland, WI 53558-0110.
Q: What should I do if my smoke detector or carbon monoxide detector goes off?
A: Call 911 and make sure everyone exits your home. Make sure you account for everyone outside of your home.
Q: What type of smoke detector or carbon monoxide detector should I purchase?
A: There are many good models on the market. Make sure the model is Underwriters Laboratory (UL) approved and has a test button to ensure proper functioning.
Q: How can I obtain a burning permit?
A: Burning permits can be obtained at the McFarland Administrative Office, 5915 Milwaukee Street, McFarland on Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information on burning permits, click on Burning Permits.