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Officers
Firefighters are rescuers who are extensively trained
to:
- put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations
and property
- rescue people from car accidents, collapsed and burning
buildings, threatening water situations
- provide emergency medical services
The increasing complexity of modern life with an increase in
the scale of hazards has stimulated both advances in
firefighting technology and a broadening of the
firefighter-rescuer's scope. The role of officers in the fire
department has become more challenging and critically important as
times change.
The officers of the Cedarburg Fire Department are below.
(Please mouseover officer's name to see pictures and bio.)
Chief Richard Van Dinter
 Richard Van Dinter |
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Chief Rich Van Dinter joined the department October 4, 1974
and been Fire Chief since May 1993. He has been an Engine
Company Lieutenant, Captain and Deputy Chief in charge of
training. Additional accomplishments and involvement
include:
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Certified Fire Fighter 2
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MPO 1975-1979
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Attended numerous NFA classes and command
seminars
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Served on department committees for
membership, constitution, truck, awards, safety,
city/dept. relations adhoc, fire station 1 and 2 building
committees, city festivals, city water retention ponds and
dams
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Secretary/Treasurer of Association of
Ozaukee County Fire Dept 2006 - present
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Member of the Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs
Association
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Member of the International Association of
Fire Chiefs
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Assistant Chief Jeffery Vahsholtz
 Jeffery Vahsholtz |
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Assistant Chief Jeffery Vahsholtz joined the department in May of 1978.
Coming up through the ranks, he has held the positions of
Engineer, Rescue Lt., Rescue Capt., Engine Company Capt.,
and Deputy Chief in charge of training. Jeff was a member
of the Dive Rescue Team, has served on most committees in
the department, and continues to maintain his EMT-IV
technician license.
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Deputy Chief Jeffery Boerner
 Jeffery Boerner |
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Deputy Chief Jeffery Boerner joined the department October 4, 1974.
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include:
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Deputy Chief William Gertsch
 William Gertsch |
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Deputy Chief William Gertsch joined the department in May of 1979.
During his 30 years as a member, Bill has been active and
has moved to increasing roles of responsibility in the
department. Additional accomplishments and involvement
include:
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Department Deputy Chief - 2006 to present
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Department Training Office (Deputy Chief) 2003 to present
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Department Training Officer (Captain) 1998 - 2003
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Fire Suppression Captain (Engine/Ladder Co. combined)
1996 - 1998
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Engine Co. Captain 1993 - 1996
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Ladder Co. Captain 1992 - 1993
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Engine Co. Lieutenant 1988 - 1992
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Dive Team Leader 1985 - 1987
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Fire fighter/Emergency Medical Technician 1979 - present
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Co-Founder and elected Secretary/Treasurer of the Ozaukee Co. Fire Investigators Association 1997 - 2001
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His current certifications include State Certified
Firefighter II, State Certified Emergency Medical Technician, State Certified Fire Instructor and
Certified Open Water Scuba Diver, inter-department certifications include extrication specialist and MPO.
He received the Meritorious Service Award in 2006 for outstanding contributions made for his service, and in 2004
became an Honorary Member of the Cedarburg Fire Department for 25 years of consecutive active service.
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Deputy Chief Daniel Henke
 Daniel Henke |
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Deputy Chief Daniel Henke has been a member of the Cedarburg
Fire Department for over 25 years. His current position is
Deputy Chief in charge of safety, or Safety Officer. The
main focus of his position is making safety a greater part of the
department and ensuring the department follows policies, procedures
and SOG's (Standard Operating Guidelines) during practices and
emergency situations.
Additional approaches to enhance the safety program
include:
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creation of an active safety committee
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a safety suggestion box
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monthly safety meetings and trainings
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The department is part of the Firefighter Near-Miss
Reporting System, a national system with the goal of improving
firefighter safety. Recently, the department has participated in
the National Seatbelt Pledge in which all Cedarburg Fire Department
members pledge to wear their seat belts in all department and personal
vehicles.
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| Fire/Rescue Officers |
Captain/Training Officer Mike La Rosa
 Mike La Rosa |
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Captain/Training Officer Mike La Rosa joined the department December 7, 2001.
Currently serving the department as Training Officer, he oversees
all department training. He is also an Extrication Officer
specializing in vehicle rescue.
Additional accomplishments and involvement
include:
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Fire Fighter I & II
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Hazmat Operations
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Driver Operator Pumper
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Driver Operator Aerial
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Fire Inspector
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Fire Instructor
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Emergency Medical Technician
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National Fire Academy, Safety Officer
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National Fire Academy, Training Officer Course
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NIMS/ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800
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National Safety Council, Instructor; Emergency Vehicle Operations
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Captain/Engine Company Scott Matusewic
 Scott Matusewic |
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Captain/Engine Company Scott Matusewic joined the department August 1992.
He became an EMT in 1993. He was promoted to Lieutenant of
Engine/Ladder Company in 1996 and served in that position
for 11 years. He was promoted to Engine/Ladder Company captain in 2007.
Additional accomplishments and involvement
include:
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State certified MPO
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Confined space rescue certified
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Member of dive team/Dive Rescue Specialist certified
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Competed in auto extrication
competition 3 years.
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LT Chad King
 LT Chad King |
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LT Chad King joined the department in November 2000
and has served as an Engine Company Lieutenant since June
of 2003.
Additional accomplishments and involvement
include: |
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LT Joel Bublitz
 Joel Bublitz |
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LT Joel Bublitz joined the department in 2000.
Shortly after joining he became a certified EMT-I. Joel
continued to grow with the engine company and reached a
personal goal of becoming Engine Company Lieutenant in 2002.
Joel also shared the common interest with the dive team. In
2003, Joel took over the dive team and became the dive team
leader. He is currently active in these positions. Lieutenant
Bublitz shares the common goal with his fellow members which
continues to serve his community with knowledge and pride. |
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Captain/Rescue Company Kim Gordon
 Kim Gordon |
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Captain/Rescue Company Kim Gordon joined the department in September 1999.
She attended and complete National Fire Academy classes
at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
She attended the Center for Domestic Preparedness and
completed a 24 hour class on Weapons of Mass Destruction
Incident Command Course (COBRA).
Additional accomplishments and involvement
include:
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Fire Fighter I & II
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Nationally Registered EMT - Basic & Intermediate
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Hazardous Materias Basic and Concept Implementations
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Fire Officer I
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Auto Extrication
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Driver/Operator - Pumper and Aerial
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ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700 and 800
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Member of the departments Safety Committee,
Uniform Committee and Executive Committee
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LT Whitney Dobson
 Whitney Dobson |
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LT Whitney Dobson joined the department May 2002.
His duties include lead trainings for rescue, officer for
fire and rescue calls, assist Captain of Rescue Company.
Additional accomplishments and involvement
include:
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Firefighter I & II
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EMT Basic and EMT-IV Technician
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Basic Open Water
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Fire Instructor I
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Fire Officer I
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LT Grant Witte
 Grant Witte |
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Grant Witte joined the department October 4, 1974
and been Fire Chief since May 1993. He has been an Engine
Company Lieutenant, Captain and Deputy Chief in charge of
training. Additional accomplishments and involvement
include:
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Certified Fire Fighter 2
-
MPO 1975-1979
-
Attended numerous NFA classes and command
seminars
-
Served on department committees for
membership, constitution, truck, awards, safety,
city/dept. relations adhoc, fire station 1 and 2 building
committees, city festivals, city water retention ponds and
dams
-
Secretary/Treasurer of Association of
Ozaukee County Fire Dept 2006 - present
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Member of the Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs
Association
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Member of the International Association of
Fire Chiefs
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Captain/Engineers William Hintz
 William Hintz |
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William Hintz joined the department October 4, 1974
and been Fire Chief since May 1993. He has been an Engine
Company Lieutenant, Captain and Deputy Chief in charge of
training. Additional accomplishments and involvement
include:
-
Certified Fire Fighter 2
-
MPO 1975-1979
-
Attended numerous NFA classes and command
seminars
-
Served on department committees for
membership, constitution, truck, awards, safety,
city/dept. relations adhoc, fire station 1 and 2 building
committees, city festivals, city water retention ponds and
dams
-
Secretary/Treasurer of Association of
Ozaukee County Fire Dept 2006 - present
-
Member of the Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs
Association
-
Member of the International Association of
Fire Chiefs
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Extrication Officer Captain Mike La Rosa
 Mike La Rosa |
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Mike La Rosa joined the department December 7, 2001.
Currently serving the department as Training Officer, he oversees
all department training. He is also an Extrication Officer
specializing in vehicle rescue.
Additional accomplishments and involvement
include:
-
Fire Fighter I & II
-
Hazmat Operations
-
Driver Operator Pumper
-
Driver Operator Aerial
-
Fire Inspector
-
Fire Instructor
-
Emergency Medical Technician
-
National Fire Academy, Safety Officer
-
National Fire Academy, Training Officer Course
-
NIMS/ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800
-
National Safety Council, Instructor; Emergency Vehicle Operations
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Dive Team Leader LT Joel Bublitz
 Joel Bublitz |
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LT Joel Bublitz joined the department in 2000.
Shortly after joining he became a certified EMT-I. Joel
continued to grow with the engine company and reached a
personal goal of becoming Engine Company Lieutenant in 2002.
Joel also shared the common interest with the dive team. In
2003, Joel took over the dive team and became the dive team
leader. He is currently active in these positions. Lieutenant
Bublitz shares the common goal with his fellow members which
continues to serve his community with knowledge and pride. |
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| Administrative Officers |
Park Board President Don Dehn
 Don Dehn |
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Don Dehn joined the department in July of 2002.
Since joining the Fire Department, he has been very active in
training new members on driving and operating the CFD apparatus.
Additional accomplishments and involvement
include: |
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Secretary Kara Racine
 Kara Racine |
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Kara Racine joined the department . . .
Her bio information . . .
Additional accomplishments and involvement
include:
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Fire Inspector Rodger Rahn
 Rodger Rahn |
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Fire Inspector Rodger Rahn joined the department . . .
His bio information . . .
Additional accomplishments and involvement
include:
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Officer History

The Cedarburg Fire Department was organized
by a group of Cedarburg pioneers. Over 125
years ago the company was comprised of 31
members, and Fred Schatz was the first
chief.
He served as Chief from 1866 to
1880.
In 1880 Edward Lanhenrich was elected Chief.
In 1889 Gerhart Wurthmann was elected Chief.
In 1914 Ernest E. Schneider was elected
Chief, and for the next fifty years served
in that capacity.
In 1965 William G. Ritter was elected Chief.
In 1978 William H. Anderson was elected as
Chief by members.
In 1980 Wayne A. Fischer elected Chief at
annual meeting.
In 1986 Richard Horneck was elected chief
and served for seven years.
In 1993 Richard Van Dinter is the newly
appointed Chief.
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