2014
On January 1, 2014, the South Area Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) District begins operations in the Village of Weston and the Town of Rib Mountain, Wisconsin, with the merger of the Weston and Rib Mountain Fire Departments. Operating out of two stations, (Station 1 in Rib Mountain and Station 2 in Weston) SAFER is a combination department that offers full fire and emergency medical services at the paramedic level. Additionally, we offer confined space rescue, high and low-angle rope rescue, water rescue, ice rescue, and interfacility transfer services at the RN and critical care paramedic level.
SAFER's first Fire Chief is Paul Wirth (former Rib Mountain Fire Chief) and Steve Meilahn is appointed as the Deputy Fire Chief (former Weston Fire Chief) working Monday through Friday out of Station 1. Six full-time Battalion Chiefs lead the three shifts between the two stations with four part-time firefighters/ EMTs who are split between the two stations. In total, SAFER operates with a duty crew of 6 individuals (BC and 2 part-time EMT/FFs at each station) and two administrative staff, for a total of 8 FTEs with part-time personnel.
When the district is created, our apparatus fleet is inherited from the Village of Weston and the Town of Rib Mountain and rebranding begins with "South Area Fire District" being placed on each of the apparatus. In 2014, the first District apparatus purchase is made as a PL Custom ambulance is put into service.
In June 2014, Fire Chief Paul Wirth retires and Deputy Fire Chief Steve Meilahn is promoted to Fire Chief. Battalion Chief Matt Savage is promoted to Deputy Fire Chief.
2015 - 2016
In June 2015, Fire Chief Steve Mielahn retires and Deputy Fire Chief Matt Savage is promoted to Fire Chief. Josh Finke, who works as the City of Wausau Fire Department's EMS Division Chief, is hired as the Deputy Fire Chief.
In the Fall of 2015, SAFER adds two full-time administrative positions, Fire Marshal and EMS Division Chief. Captain Marty Christiansen is promoted to Fire Marshal and Battalion Chief Kelly Bechel is promoted to EMS Division Chief. Administrative staff now consists of 4 full-time personnel: Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief, EMS Division Chief, and Fire Marshal who work Monday through Friday out of Station 1. SAFER now has 10 FTEs with part-time personnel.
In 2016, the district purchases our first fire apparatus, Rescue 21, a CustomFire rescue pumper on a Spartan chassis housed at Station 2.
2017 - 2021
With the increase in call volume and interfacility transfers, daily staffing in 2017 increases from 6 to 7, with a Battalion Chief and 3 part-time firefighter/EMTs staffing station 2 in Weston and a Battalion Chief and 2 part-time firefighter/EMTs staffing station 1 in Rib Mountain. To further help with staffing, 2018 saw the creating of majoirty-time positions. Majoirty-time personnel are limited benefit full-time positions. Additional staffing changes include adding career Engineer/Paramedic positions; 1 in 2018, 1 in 2019, and 2 in 2021 as we transition part-time staff positions with full-time Engineer/Paramedics. At the end of 2021, SAFER is operating with 14 FTEs, majority-time, and part-time personnel.
In 2018, our first part-time administrative assistant is hired. Initially, this position conducts agenda creation and takes minutes for SAFER Board and SAFER Commission meetings, working less than 20 hours a month. By late 2018 additional responsibilities are added and the administrative assistant, working to assist the Fire Chief and Deputy Fire Chief, works 20+ hours a week.
2021
In 2021, daily staffing includes 11 firefighter/EMTs (administration included) M-F 08:00-16:00 and seven firefighter/EMTs (Battalion Chiefs included) all remaining hours, weekends, and holidays. Station staffing consists of a Battalion Chief and 2 FF/EMTs at station 1 and a Battalion Chief and 3 FF/EMTs at station 2. As a combination department, SAFER's staffing model includes career, majority-time (full-time with limited benefits), and part-time firefighter/EMTs that staff our two stations 24 hours a day, responding to more than 3900 calls for service in 2021.
In 2021 we hire our first full-time Captain as we transition our management model from 6 Battalion Chiefs (1 at each station each day, or 2 per shift) to 3 Battalion Chiefs and 3 Captains (BC staffing station 2 and Captain staffing station 1 each day).
In the winter of 2021, we take possession of Med 107 - a Braun ambulance on a 2021 Ford Ford Chassis. We also take possession of a new UTV for wildland fires at station 2. A 2021 Intimidator GC1K with an Ultra high-pressure fire suppression system from EJ Metals.
2022
In January of 2022, SAFER begins a rebranding project as we transition away from "South Area Fire District" and embrace "South Area Fire and Emergency Response" or SAFER District. A new logo is created by Battalion Chief Stephen Genrich, and put into service. On the left side of this page is our old patch/logo, with our new patch/logo placed on the right.
Fire Chief Matt Savage resigns from his position with the district in early 2022. Deputy Fire Chief Josh Finke is appointed to Interim Fire Chief and Battalion Chief Eric Lang is appointed to Interim Deputy Fire Chief as the SAFER commission conducts a state-wide search for the next SAFER Fire Chief. Also, a search is conducted as the Green shift Battalion Chief has resigned and is replaced with our second full-time Captain. In March, Blue shift staffing is increased to 8 FF/EMTs with a Captain and 2 FF/EMTs at station 1 and a Battalion Chief, Engineer, and 3 FF/EMTs at station 2.
In April 2022, Deputy Chief Josh Finke is promoted to Fire Chief and in May, Battalion Chief Eric Lang is promoted to Deputy Fire Chief.
In May of 2022, SAFER takes ownership of a new Hovercraft, purchased through the 2021 approved capital budget process. The Hovercraft is a neoteric brand, 4-person hovercraft. Two Battalion Chiefs are sent to Indiana to pick up the hovercraft and attend two days of intensive training. Once it arrives in the District, training begins for all personnel. The Hovercraft will be used for water and ice rescues on the Wisconsin River, Rib River, Eau Claire River, and Lake Wausau and for mutual-aid responses as requested.
On June 1, 2022, the station 2 Battalion Chief position on Red shift is filled with our 3rd full-time Captain. The Captain is placed at station 1, and the station 1 Battalion Chief is moved to station 2. SAFER's management model transition is now complete, with 3 Battalion Chiefs staffing station 2 in the Village of Weston and 3 Captains staffing station 1 in the Town of Rib Mountain.
Staffing in June 2022 is: Captain, Engineer, FF/EMT at station 1 on Red shift; Battalion Chief, Engineer, 2 FF/EMTs at station 2 on Red shift; Captain, 2 FF/EMTs at station 1 on Green shift; Battalion Chief, Engineer, 2 FF/EMTs at station 2 on Green shift; Captain, 2 FF/EMTs at station 1 on Blue shift; Battalion Chief, Engineer, 3 FF/EMTs at station 2 on Blue shift.
Also, in 2022, we updated our fleet with several deliveries and purchases for future deployment. All apparatus can be found in the "Fire, Rescue, EMS" tab found under the "About SAFER" heading.
2023
In 2023 SAFER continues to be progressive. With input from the staff, SAFER changes the work schedule from a 24-hour California schedule (ABABCBCACABABC) to a 48/96 schedule (AABBCCAABBCC). We also increased staffing to 8 personnel for 12 hours a day during peak times (9:00 am - 9:00 pm) and hired two full-time Engineers. This brings our full-time staff to 16 with approximately 34 part-time staff. Daily staffing across all shifts is seven personnel 24 hours a day, with eight personnel during peak times (9:00 am - 9:00 pm).
In January 2023 SAFER adds 2 more FTEs. Staffing is; Captain, Engineer, FF/EMT for 24 hours across all shifts at station 1 and a Battalion Chief, Engineer, 2 FF/EMTs for 24 hours and a 12-hour FF/EMT at station 2 across all shifts. SAFER now employs 16 FTEs with majority-time and part-time personnel to staff 8 personnel 12 hours a day and 7 personnel 24/7.
Spring 2023 SAFER decides to purchase a new software platform to run the district and begins the implementation of EPR FireWorks to run all our day-to-day operations. With an increase in workload for this implementation and other additional administrative needs, our Administrative-Assistant is added to full-time staff. Also, the district's EMS Division chief resigns for a position with Emergency Management. The EMS Division Chief position is transitioned to a part-time Director of Medical Services position and is filled later in the year.
In November, the full-time staff vote to unionize. International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 5452 is formed. With current staffing vacancies and the three Battalion Chiefs being exempt, members of IAFF Local 5452 include; 3 full-time Captains, 5 full-time Engineers, 1 limited benefit full-time Lieutenant, and 5 limited benefit full-time FF/EMTs. Through the budget process, 4 additional full-time firefighters are approved by the SAFER board, increasing our staffing to 8 personnel 24 hours a day and increasing our FTEs to 18 union personnel and 7 exempt personnel including Battalion Chiefs and administrative staff, for 25 total FTEs starting January 2024.
2024
In June a contract is signed with IAFF Local 5452 after six months of negotiations that runs from July 1, 2024 through December 31, 2026. All limited benefit employees are full time with full benefits on January 1, 2025.
Staffing on July 1, 2024 includes: full-time Battalion Chief, Engineer, and two Firefighters with 1 part-time Firefighter at station 2. Full-time Captain, Engineer, and Firefighter at station 1. Full staffing compliment is 8 personnel on duty, 5 at station 2 and 3 at station 1, with minimum staffing being 6 personnel, 4 at station 2 and 2 at station 1. Current FTEs including administrative staff is 25 personnel.
Fall of 2025 SAFER took possession of a new 100' platform Aerial, replacing truck 11. Truck 1 is a 100' Pierce platform on a velocity chassis. Ordered in 2022, Truck 1 replaces a 25-year-old platform and will service the communities for the next 20 to 25 years.
2025
In January 2025 the inaugural IAFF contract was fully initiated, providing full benefits and full-time status to five of our firefighter/EMTs. The Director of Medical Services, after several months of work and classes, accepts a promotion to EMS Division Chief and the positions hours are increased from 20 hours per week to 32 hours per week.
In February, we started taking applications for the new firefighter/EMT internship program. This live-in program will employ three individuals full-time who the district will sponsor through firefighter 1, firefighter 2, driver operator- pumper, EMT, and Paramedic over a two-year period. The interns will live at station 2 with SAFER providing a room with all utilities included. Each intern will be assigned to a shift that they will work as part of the crew when not in classes. This inaugural application period yielded 20 applicants, of which, three were selected who started living at the station and attending EMT class in June.
In Spring, the SAFER Board of Directors approves for the department to apply for a FEMA SAFER grant in order to add nine firefighters (three per shift) in order to increase staffing of fire apparatus, adding an engine company to station 1 in Rib Mountain. Administration and Local 5452 combined to submit the grant in June.
From Rib Mountain & Weston to SAFER
