The Cedarburg Fire Department’s training bureau is responsible for the training of all new members, and the ongoing training of current members, in the areas of firefighting, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Motor Pump Operators (Engineers), Extrication, Dive/Rescue and other specialized areas.

The Cedarburg Fire Department’s training bureau is committed to supply the community the best-trained individuals to handle fire, medical and other emergencies as the arise.

Members joining our department to actively fight fires must attend, and pass a State of Wisconsin Certified Fire Fighter 1 class through one of the technical colleges in the state. Fire Fighter 1 class runs a full semester and includes 96 hours of classroom instruction and practical skills.

Members joining our department to actively run Emergency Medical calls must attend Emergency Medical Technician basic level through one of the technical colleges in the state. This is also one semester long consisting of 140 hours of classroom and clinical training.

Along with in-house training, many of our members participate in off-site training through various seminars and classes. Our members have attended different seminars around the country, such as FDIC in Indianapolis, and 2 Day Programs (formerly State weekend) at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

The Cedarburg Fire Department is fortunate in that it has numerous resources at its disposal for in-house training. A "Lean-To" was constructed to use for ladder work, ventilation operations and chimney operations. Within the lean-to structure we have installed a sprinkler system which allows us to train on sprinkler operations as well.

We have also converted an abandoned well on our property into a training facility below grade. The facility can be used for search and rescue or confined space rescue. The well measures 45 feet in diameter and 18 feet high.

The inside of the well as transformed into a special training facility with lighting and a wooden deck platform which serves as a second floor. The platform measures 11 feet high by 1,056 square feet. Attached to the platform are 2 different types of staircases. The well has 2 manholes that make for safe and effective confined space entry training.

Throughout the years, Cedarburg Fire Department has been fortunate in acquiring structures ready for demolition to hone our skills of live fire training. In following NFPA guidelines for safe live fire training, we have developed a chronological order of training sessions. The structure is first used with artificial smoke for search and rescue. We do this a number of times, utilizing different scenarios. We then move to roof work and vertical ventilation, pre-cutting the necessary vent holes in the roof. After that we can move to live fire training; burning selected rooms in the structure as spot fires. When we have burned just about all we can, while maintaining the integrity of the building, we plan the final burn down day and level the structure.