During 2012, following an evaluation of the Pleasant Prairie Fire & Rescue Department by the Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO), Pleasant Prairie's ISO rating was raised to Class 3 (a rating held nationwide by only 3.4% of those evaluated). Recommendations from the ISO evaluation led the Village to consider and ultimately act to reinforce the base structure of the department by adding full-time staff to bring the department more in-line with staffing levels at other departments in similar sized communities. Doing so has strengthened one of the core services that the Village provides and has helped with recruitment and retention of full-time staff.
Each full-time Firemedic in Pleasant Prairie must hold a minimum certification as a Wisconsin Firefighter I and II and a Wisconsin Fire Driver Operator - Pumper and Aerial. Each Firemedic must also maintain a Wisconsin Paramedic license and an American Heart Association CPR - Health Care Provider card and Advanced Cardiac Life Support card. Additionally, full-time Firemedics in Pleasant Prairie must complete training in: High Angle Rescue; Confined Space Rescue; Trench Rescue; and Structural Collapse. They must also become a Hazardous Materials technician.
In addition to firefighting, paramedic services, and the training listed above, Pleasant Prairie Firemedics receive ongoing training for: Vehicle Extrication; Ice Rescue; Water Rescue; Rapid Intervention Team Training; Self Rescue; and more. Pleasant Prairie Firemedics are trained to perform in both high-frequency, moderate-risk situations and low-frequency, high-risk situations.
Situational, skills based, and physical training of department staff is a regular and ongoing activity. Many training programs are collaborative efforts with neighboring departments from Wisconsin and Illinois.
Below you can view a new recruit training video from Pleasant Prairie's Class of 2013.