Fire chief: calls up about 2%; new inspection platform, MIH program and equipment upgrades coming

Fire Chief Joel Pulvermacher on Monday delivered the fire department’s 2025 year‑end overview to the Menomonee Falls Village Board, reporting modest call‑volume growth, equipment purchases tied to recent swift‑water responses and an expanded focus on mobile integrated health and inspections.

“We're up about 2%,” Pulvermacher said, summarizing the department’s 2025 call volume and noting August flooding contributed to the increase. He told trustees the department still responds to a majority of emergency medical service calls and has prioritized paramedic‑level ambulance staffing to meet demand.

The chief said the U.S. Fire Administration’s former National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) has been replaced by what the presentation referred to as a newer reporting platform; the department will adopt the new system in 2026 to better capture prevention, medical and non‑fire activities beyond traditional fire incident counts. Pulvermacher said that change will give the village improved data to guide staffing and deployment decisions.

Pulvermacher outlined station workload and deployment trends: Station 98 remains the busiest, followed by Station 99 on Lily and Appleton and Station 97 on Silver Spring. He said the department continues to staff three stations operationally even though legacy data in mapping tools still shows five stations. He also described a “peak ambulance” staffing plan and use of an intercept unit on days the department cannot staff four ambulances.

The presentation included a number of program and equipment items:

- An iROLL inspection portal will go live March 1; businesses will be notified through their service providers and inspectors will carry explanatory letterhead during on‑site visits. - The department investigated 69 fires in 2025, a roughly 17% decrease from the prior year, and will refer significant cases to the state fire marshal and the police department when criminal activity is suspected. - Training totaled about 10,240 hours across EMS, fire and rescue disciplines; the department also ran live‑fire exercises outside the village to rotate crews. - After a recent swift‑water rescue, the chief said staff identified that some cold‑water suits in use are unsuitable for swift‑water operations; the department has purchased appropriate rescue suits and is scheduling training ahead of the next high‑water season. - An ATV ambulance procured with grant funds is stationed at Station 98 for events, trails and confined areas; SCBA units funded through a grant were placed into service in 2024–25. - Mobile integrated health (MIH) — funded primarily through grants — conducted roughly 120 in‑home visits in 2025; Pulvermacher said MIH helped reduce repeated ambulance use by connecting residents with resources and working with assisted‑living staff on alternatives to repeated 911 responses.

Trustees asked about the aerial (platform) truck’s role and longevity. Pulvermacher said the apparatus is used for technical rescues, extrication and situations requiring reach rather than height, and he aims for a 15‑ to 20‑year useful life. Trustees also raised concerns about mutual‑aid patterns with neighboring jurisdictions; the chief said the department has responded into Butler and Brookfield and will monitor for overreliance.

Pulvermacher closed by saying the written annual report is not yet published and invited trustees to suggest items to include before it goes online.

The board did not take any formal action on the report; trustees thanked the chief and moved on to the consent agenda.