PORTAGE, Wis. — For many school districts and first responders, 2024 was a year of referendums.
Back in February, the City of Portage passed an increased property tax levy of around $1.5 million to help build its own EMS service, hire and train paramedics, and buy three ambulances.
What You Need To Know
- The start of 2025 put an EMS service into play for the first time in the City of Portage. On Jan. 1, the Portage Fire Department took its first calls, serving the city and surrounding municipalities
- Back in February, the City of Portage passed an increased property tax levy of around $1.5 million to help build its own EMS service, hire and train paramedics, and buy three ambulances
- The rollout of this ambulance service is a switch from what the department used to offer. For years, Portage had an agreement with a third-party ambulance service
- The team of first responders who were on shift for day one all shared the same excitement, knowing they were part of a first big step for the department and the communities they serve
The start of 2025 put that EMS service into play for the first time. On Jan. 1, the Portage Fire Department took its first calls, serving the city and surrounding municipalities.
The department got three brand new ambulances and expanded their team by 14 paramedics and EMTs.
“To take over something like this and take over right on the first of the year, to have everything culminate to one time of the year is a big thing,” Portage Fire Chief Troy Haase said.
Haase said this past year has been a lot of work. They ordered all three ambulances, bought supplies to fill those ambulances, hired new staff and remodeled portions of their station to accommodate full-time staff members on-call.
“It’s exciting to go from a paid on-call fire department to a full-time EMS service where we have 21 full-time people. It’s a big step,” he said. “But I think we will be able to handle it.”
Lt. Tyler Greenwood is one of the many new hires coming in. He said going out on calls on day one has been rewarding to be a part of.
“It’s exciting,” Greenwood said. “We have a really rare opportunity to start a service from the ground level and it’s exciting to be able to serve the citizens of Portage and the surrounding area.”
The rollout of this ambulance service is a switch from what the department used to offer. For years, Portage had an agreement with a third-party ambulance service. Haase said although the cost is a bit more to run services on their own, they now have control and can reduce response times to those in need.
“With us providing three ambulances rather than two, we’re able to get out quicker and faster,” Haase said. “Our response times should be minutes in the city; in the townships, eight or ten minutes, but it will definitely cut response times, having people at the station 365.”
The team of first responders who were on shift for day one all shared the same excitement, knowing they were part of a first big step for the department and the communities they serve.
“It’s a really humbling experience to be able to see something grow from the ground up and watch it grow and manifest into something amazing,” Portage Fire Department Firefighter/Paramedic Jerry Weatherby said.
Haase said the Portage Fire Department responded to six EMS calls from midnight to early afternoon on the first day of service.