Better Together: Options for Enhanced Fire Department Collaboration in the Fox Valley

In response to labor shortages, fiscal challenges, and recruitment and retention barriers facing emergency medical services (EMS) agencies across Wisconsin, fire departments in Fox Valley are considering options for enhanced collaborations with surrounding departments as a means of addressing shared challenges. This report provides an overview of each department, as well as a financial overview, a summary of current collaboration efforts, and a list of potential collaborations. Specifically, the analysis covers five areas of fire department operations: training, special operations, community risk reduction, fleet maintenance, and EMS quality control and oversight.