RHINELANDER, Wis. — Nicolet College opened a brand new, state-of-the-art facility to train current and future firefighters, emergency medical service providers and law enforcement officers.
The $1.5 million building houses four classrooms, an apparatus bay, a training simulator, fire truck, ambulance, patrol vehicles and safety gear. It’s the nearest training facility within at least 70 miles of Rhinelander.
Nicolet College leaders hope it will attract new recruits and help build a workforce of first responders in the area.
Elizabeth Nellessen is among the first class of students using the new facility. She’s from the small town of Pickerel, near Antigo. She wants to be an emergency medical technician.
“I know Pickerel is still an hour away, but this is the closest option I had,” she said. “For them to give me all the resources I need is absolutely awesome.”
There’s a nationwide shortage of emergency medical responders, firefighters, law enforcement officers and volunteers.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, nearly 80% of Wisconsin fire departments are made up entirely of volunteers. Almost another 14% are considered “mostly volunteer” departments.
“We serve roughly 54 volunteer fire and EMD services here in the Nicolet College District and there is not one that is fully staffed,” said Jason Goldener, the associate dean of public safety at Nicolet College. “Everyone is hurting for members.”
It’s a very different scenario than when he was coming up the ranks.
“Back in the day when I started in the fire service, there were waiting lists on volunteer departments,” he said. “They were capped and had waiting lists for years. You had to basically know someone to get in.”
Goldener is working to expand Nicolet College’s public safety training program into high schools to prepare more young people.
Many local fire departments are also sponsoring those who are interested in taking courses at the new training facility. It’s ultimately helping both students and departments save money by not having to travel for training.
“Our big plug is to give back to the community,” Goldener said. “We are here to help our neighbors, our friends, our family. That is why we do the volunteer work that we do.”
Nellessen echoes that calling and mission as she drives every day from Pickerel to get the training she needs to become an EMT.
“I’m doing this for my community, so I can save them and give them a better chance of life,” she said.