About the District

The District is owned by, and provides fire and EMS services to, the residents of the City of Oconomowoc, Village of Summit, Village of Dousman, and Town of Ottawa. In addition, the District also provides fire and EMS services to the residents of the Town of Oconomowoc, Village of Lac LaBelle, and portions of the Town of Merton. EMS services are also provided to the residents of the Town and Village of Sullivan, Town of Ashippun, and portions of the Town of Concord. 

The District was built on the partnership and spirit of cooperation between municipalities to provide fire/EMS services in the most fiscally responsible and efficient manner possible. The District is the combination of six previously individual Fire/EMS Departments that have been brought together to provide more efficient service, while increasing the levy of care provided to the communities it serves. These consolidations have also provided a sustainable approach to staffing and decreasing response times, while increasing the level of Emergency Medical Service Care to the Paramedic level. 

The minimum daily staffing for the District is 18 to 21 personnel between the six stations. That staffing includes a Duty Chief, six ambulances and five paramedic interceptor units. The stations also cross-staff an engine, quint, or rescue. 

Additional staffing from paid-on-call personnel supplements and ensures adequate staffing for all fire, rescue, and motor vehicle incidents. The District maintains another five ambulances that are also staffed when call volumes require additional ambulances, or during special events that occur throughout the District. Our annual call volume of over 6,500 calls includes a mix of fire, emergency medical, specialty service, and high acuity incidents. 

Covering 215 square miles, the Western Lakes Fire District’s service area is a diverse mix of suburban, rural, and wildland-urban interface with a population of 54,568. Included in the Fire District’s coverage area are two hospitals (with one being Level 2 Trauma certified), several miles of Interstate 94 and other state highways, three large behavioral/mental health facilities, seven large elderly living facilities, growing retail areas, expansive manufacturing and distribution centers, multiple outdoor recreational location including the Kettle Moraine State Forest, numerous educational facilities including a high school, multiple middle, elementary, and private schools. 

Special services provided by the District include: Search and Rescue with drone operations, Dive Rescue Team with surface Water/Ice Rescue, Rescue Task Force, Rehabilitation Unit, Critical Incident Stress, Interfacility Ambulance Transports, Bike Patrol, and Therapy K9 unit. The District is highly involved with the communities it serves, and regularly attends public relations and education events. These activities include hosting open houses at the District Stations, parades, festivals, block parties, attendance at schools, and many more. 

Other Information

Residency: within 35 miles of the District’s Headquarters at 1400 Oconomowoc Parkway, Oconomowoc WI 53066, provided that a candidate who does not live within those boundaries at the time of application shall have eighteen months from the first date on which he or she occupies the position with the District to comply with the residency requirement. 

Medical: Applicants will be required to submit a medical examination consistent with the requirements of the position, which will include drug testing, after an offer of employment and prior to appointment. This medical exam is designed to reveal any medical condition that might put the applicant at increased risk to self or others as a result of certain exposures or activities and to exhibit freedom from any physical, emotional, or mental condition which adversely affects the performance of duties in the position they have applied for under the essential functions of employment, with reasonable accommodation. 

Salary and Benefits: Wages and benefits are determined by the Western Lakes Fire District Board. Lateral transfer appointment conditions at the discretion of the fire chief.  

Lateral Transfers: Candidates with current sworn full-time experience are eligible for lateral transfer to the District, at the Chief’s discretion. The District takes into consideration years of sworn full-time experience for lateral transfers which is reflected in the compensation steps, vacation time, and sick time. 

Important Dates:

Application Deadline Wednesday, September 18th

Firefighter/Medic Interviews Monday, October 7th and/or Tuesday, October 8th

Conditional Offers Mid-November 2024

Firefighter/Medic Start Date January 13th, 2025