From Hi-Lights: Firefighters of PHS

Posted April 24, 2023

NOTE: This article appeared in the March 2023 edition of the Plymouth High School newspaper, Hi-Lights.

By Gabe Meredith
of The Hi-Lights staff

U.S. Department of Labor statistics said that there are 1.2 million firefighters across America, and some PHS students have found ways to get involved with the local fire departments. These students will serve as the next generation of firefighters.

Across the area, multiple groups teach the next generation the basics of firefighting. Plymouth Fire Department (PFD) has a group called Cadets. The Cascade Fire Department (CFD) and Greenbush Fire Department (GBFD) have a shared group called Explorers. Johnsonville and Howards Grove departments (JFD and HGFD) have their Explorers group as well.

Plymouth’s Cadet program shows the cadets what it’s like to be on a part-time fire department. “We come to practice every Monday and we can go to calls but we don’t have pagers,” said cadet Nick Farr. “If we go on calls we can’t go into the fire.” They currently have three members but are always open to recruits.

The newly started Cadet program is developing and expanding. “I have been there for about two months and I have had a lot of fun learning ice rescues, RIT, etc.,” said Farr.

“My favorite part is the fact that I am learning how to save lives and preserve burning buildings,” said Farr. “When a building is on fire, lots of stuff/money gets burned with it.”

Cascade and Greenbush Explorers meet one Wednesday every month of the year. “Explorers is a great part of becoming a firefighter and teaching you to become better and preparing for the training,” said explorer Trever Marquardt. It helps teach them what to be prepared for and what it’s like to be a firefighter.

Explorers learn many new things and do training such as water fights, ice rescue, two-minute drills, house simulations, ladder climbing, etc. “I think the Explorers helps me a lot with how to become a firefighter and what it’s all about,” said explorer Alex Marquardt. They do similar or the same drills that fire departments across the county do.

Most students get their care for firefighting from similar surroundings and family members. “Firefighting has been in my family for generations, and my great-grandfather helped start the department I’m on so I just wanted to keep the streak going,” said Johnsonville volunteer firefighter Calob Rautmann. “I wanted to become a firefighter right after my dad went on his first call,” said T Marquardt. “My dad had a huge impact on me to start firefighting,” said A Marquardt.

With the help of firefighters, each student will learn and grow. “With recruitment and retention being so important in the fire service, I knew it was important to get young people involved,” said Cascade volunteer firefighter and Explorers advisor Fred Arbuckle. “My niece Vanessa and nephew Caleb wanted to get into firefighting, so I decided to become the advisor, and then I stayed the advisor when my daughters were old enough to join,” said Arbuckle.

Students each have their own care for firefighting. “My favorite part of firefighting is when we do practices on how to save people,” said A Marquardt. “My favorite thing about firefighting is that you have to think on the spot,” said explorer Ava Bulin.

Lakeshore Technical College offers courses on firefighting, which serves as a local hotspot for training and courses. “At LTC I’ve taken Intro to Firefighting and I’ve taken a Chief and Officers course that would allow me to become an officer when I turn 18,” said Rautmann. LTC offers a variety of courses to educate young firefighters and to prepare them for their futures. “I still need to take the wildfire class and hazmat class at LTC,” said Rautmann.

There are currently 26 fire departments across Sheboygan County. They all have different sizes, depending on the size of the town and surrounding areas and townships. Departments such as Greenbush Fire Department and Cascade Fire Department cover small surrounding townships as well as parts of Kettle Moraine.

Firefighting is teaming up and doing what’s right to keep the people of the community safe. With great learning and support these students will step up and fight to be the next generation of firefighting in Sheboygan County. With help and support from the community, our local firefighters and departments will be able to continue protecting us.