Date:

April 3, 2008

Released By:

 Lori Wirth – Madison Fire Dept Public Information Officer

Office: (608) 266-5947  Cell: (608) 575-4943

New Recruits to Begin Fire Academy

The City of Madison Fire Department’s Recruit Academy re-opens Monday, April 7 with 16 new recruits.

This academy will be in addition to the more common fall recruit academy. The extra class is being hired and trained to provide additional staffing for Fire Station #12, scheduled to open on the far west side of the City in early 2009.

To be selected for the Academy, individuals must complete and pass a Physical Ability Test, Written Test and Personality Inventory, Oral Board Examination and a personal interview with the Fire Chief and members of the command staff.

Benjamin J. Boucher is a graduate of Edgewood High School with a Bachelors degree in Biology and a minor in Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.  He is a Wisconsin State Certified Firefighter I & II, and a State of Wisconsin Emergency Medical Technician. Boucher most recently served as a Firefighter for the City of Appleton Fire Department

Derek A. Bridges is a graduate of Madison West High School, and has MATC – Madison. He most recently worked for Cardinal Health as a Shipping & Receiving Specialist and has been so employed since September 2007. 

Ethan C. Dade is a graduate of Big Foot High School, Walworth, WI. He earned his Associates Degree in Fire Protection Technician from MATC – Madison. He is a Wisconsin State Certified Firefighter I & II, and a State of Wisconsin Emergency Medical Technician. He most recently worked as a laborer for Statz Restoration & Engineering. He has also served as a paid-on-call firefighter with the City of Fitchburg Fire Department.

Melinda S. Dessert graduated from Alleman Catholic High School in Rock Island, IL. She holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology and minors in Sociology and English from Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL. She most recently worked at UW Hospital & Clinics in the Outpatient Radiology section.

Jon A. Durst graduated from New Glarus High School and attended UW-Madison, UW-Whitewater, MATC-Madison and Air University, Community College of the Air Force. He is a Wisconsin State Certified Firefighter I & II and certified Driver Operator – Pumper.  Durst was most recently employed by the Wisconsin Air National Guard as a Vehicle Management Analysis Supervisor.           

Matthew M. Farmer is a graduate of Verona Area High School. He continued his education at MATC – Madison and UW-Madison where he received a Bachelors degree in Sociology. Farmer was previously a patrol deputy with the Dane County Sheriff’s Department. 

Zackary D. Hake graduated from Iowa Grant High School in Livingston, WI. He received a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education from UW-Platteville.  He is currently enrolled in UW-Whitewater’s Library Science Masters Degree program.  Hake is a WI State Certified Firefighter I. He was previously employed by the Mineral Point School District as a district Media Specialist and Teaching Assistant

Dustin S. Hermanson is a graduate of Madison Lafollette High School. He continued his education at MATC, obtaining an Associates Degree in Fire Protection Technician and a Technical Diploma for EMT. Hermanson has completed his apprenticeship in Sheet Metal Construction. He was most recently employed by ADS Mechanical as a sheet metal installer. 

Jeffrey M. Hoefen graduated from Hilton Central High School, Hilton, NY and attended  Pennsylvania State University,  University Park, PA.  He also attended New York – Fredonia University where he received his Bachelors degree in Earth Science.  Hoefen also holds a doctorate degree from Life University in Marietta, GA as a Chiropractor. He received his paramedic certificate from Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood CO. Most recently, Hoefen served as a paramedic for St. James Ambulance in Olympia Fields, IL.   He has worked at Lockheed Martin, as a member of the Emergency Response Team.

Jeffrey G. Kundert is a graduate of Monroe High School, Monroe, WI and continued his education at MATC, receiving his Associates Degree in Fire Protection.  Kundert continues to pursue fire-service education courses from Blackhawk Technical College in Janesville, WI. He is State of Wisconsin Certified Firefighter I & II and Certified as a Driver / Operator – Pumper and Aerial.  He is also State Certified as a Fire Officer I.   Kundert has attended the National Fire Academy-accredited Incident Safety Officer Class and completed the Fire Instructor program.  He is currently completing his required number of instructional hours. Kundert was previously employed as a Press Operator” at RR Donnelly. He is also a Fire Lieutenant with the city of Monroe Fire Department.

Adam F. Phillipson graduated from New Glarus High School, and continued his education by attending UW – Madison. He earned his Associates degree in Fire Protection Technician and Paramedic Technician from MATC – Madison. He was previously employed by the City of Middleton EMS as a Paramedic.

Wade L. Raddatz graduated from Arrowhead High School, Hartland, WI and received a Bachelors degree from UW-Whitewater. He is currently a State of Wisconsin Firefighter I & II, a State of Wisconsin licensed EMT – Basic and has attended classes in the Waukesha County Technical College Paramedic Program.  Raddatz was most recently employed as a Firefighter/EMT for the Merton Fire Department in Merton, WI.

Jacob M. Timm is a graduate of DeForest High School with an Associates Degree from MATC – Madison in Fire Protection Technician and EMT. He is a State of Wisconsin Certified Firefighter I and has completed coursework in Basic Wildland Firefighting, EMT – Basic, CPR / AED, Hazardous Materials Awareness, and CEVO II – Ambulance (Driving course). Timm was previously employed as a Public Safety Officer for the City of Beaver Creek, Colorado. He has also served as a volunteer with the DeForest Fire Department.

Daniel T. Verhagen is a graduate of Kaukauna High School, Kaukauna, WI. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in English from UW-Madison. Prior to joining the Department, Verhagen was employed at Brunsell Lumber & Millwork as an estimator in the door and trim divisions.

Daniel R. Wisniewski graduated from Oak Creek High School, Oak Creek, WI. He has obtained an Associates Degree in Fire Science, and a Para-medicine Degree. Wisniewski has earned certification in  Scuba Diving, Pre-Hospital Advanced Life Support (PHTLS), and Swift water Awareness. He has attended the National Fire Academy – Leadership series, Firefighter I (MATC – Milwaukee), and other fire related courses. Wisniewski was most recently employed as a full-time Paramedic with the Northeast Mobile Health Services, and part-time at Waterboro Fire & EMS and Alfred Fire & EMS as a Firefighter/Paramedic. 

Chad E. Workman is a graduate of South Charleston High School in West Virginia. He has completed coursework at Air University – Community College of the Air Force. Airport Firefighter, Firefighter I & II, Fire Instructor I, Fire Officer I & II, and Driver/Operator – ARFF are among the subject areas he has studied.  He concluded his active military duty with the United States Air Force as Asst. Fire Chief of Logistics.  Workman was most recently employed at Woodward Governor as a Special Processes Operator.