Municipal fire department · Wisconsin · United States

Madison Fire Department

About MFD

The Madison Fire Department (MFD) protects the City of Madison — approximately 275,000 residents across roughly 80 square miles in Dane County, the capital of Wisconsin and home to the flagship University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. The combination of state-government infrastructure, a Big Ten research university with substantial laboratory and hospital exposure (UW Hospital and Meriter Hospital are both major US academic medical centres), an isthmus geography between Lakes Mendota and Monona, and Wisconsin winters substantially shapes the operational picture. MFD fields about 390 uniformed members from 14 fire stations and provides structural fire suppression, advanced life support emergency medical service — MFD operates ALS rescue units providing primary 911 ambulance transport within the city under a city-run model — technical rescue, hazardous materials response, water rescue and ice rescue on the city's two lakes (a dedicated dive and water-rescue team), and arson investigation. Severe winter operations are routine. Firefighter recruitment is administered by the City of Madison Human Resources Department under Wisconsin civil service rules. The process typically includes an online application, written examination, CPAT, oral interview, medical and psychological evaluation, and background investigation. Wisconsin EMT certification is required. Recruits attend a multi-month academy. Bluewatch refers candidates to the official portal.

Service at a glance

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Last updated 20 May 2026