MFD Bureaus

The Milwaukee Fire Department Support Bureau is headed by Assistant Chief Joshua E. Parish

The Support Bureau manages the Technical Services Division (TSD) and the Construction and Maintenance Division.  The responsibilities of the bureau include maintaining records of alarms, fire losses, personnel and costs, as well as accountability for payroll, budget requests and expenditures. Additionally, this bureau is responsible for the automation and data processing of technical services in the department such as Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and other computerization requirements for the MFD.

TSD also manages MFD's dispatch function which is the vital link between the public and the firefighting division. MFD dispatchers receive and handle close to 100,000 9-1-1 calls other emergency and administrative calls each year and dispatch all emergency units.  TSD is responsible for maintaining the computer and communication networks and equipment that the MFD relies on as well as several data-keeping responsibilities.  The Construction and Maintenance Division serves as the central logistical point for the department, facilitating the maintenance, repair, purchase and distribution of all equipment.

The Milwaukee Fire Department Construction and Maintenance Division is headed by Deputy Chief William T. Kowalski

The Milwaukee Fire Department EMS, Training and Education Bureau is headed by Assistant Chief David J. Hensley

The Bureau of EMS, Training and Education (BETE) manages the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division, the Training Division and the department’s Health & Safety Office.  The management of the EMS Division includes the research, origination and development of EMS procedures, training and continuous quality improvement.  The Health & Safety office is responsible for research, recommending new procedures and adjusting current ones to alleviate recurring, preventable injuries.  The Training Division also manages the community relations functions of the MFD, in addition to the professional development training of all sworn MFD members at all ranks.

 The Milwaukee Fire Department Training Division is headed by Deputy Chief James H. Ziech Sr.

The Training Division is responsible for the proper instruction and training of all members of the Milwaukee Fire Department, including all new fire cadet and firefighter training. Additionally, this division is responsible for the Survive Alive House, FOCUS (Firefighters Out Creating Urban Safety) and the MFD Community Relations Section which oversees the coordination of the department’s public relations and community education programs. The Training Division also handles vehicle operation instruction, inventory control for personal protective equipment, audiovisual support and the research and development in the science of firefighting techniques.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) constitute for over 80% of the emergency responses by the Milwaukee Fire Department and close to 95% of all the 911 calls handled by Milwaukee Fire Equipment Dispatchers. The EMS Division writes and updates the MFD’s EMS Standard Operating Guidelines and monitors quality assurance of patient care and transportation by the department’s EMS personnel, as well as private providers working under the MFD to provide Basic Life Support (BLS) transport for the city’s 911 callers.

The EMS Division coordinates licensing and training for the firefighters of the MFD which includes more than 600 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and over 200 Advanced Life Support (ALS)-trained paramedics. The EMS Division recruits and interviews prospective paramedics from within the department and is responsible for assigning the department’s paramedics to their individual companies which include ALS ambulances, fire engines, truck and special operation units.

Additionally, the EMS Deputy Chief writes the Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) Grant application and coordinates the distribution of the funds when awarded while monitoring adherence to the grant guidelines.  Several of the MFD's EMS projects under the MMRS Grant guidance include the Tactical EMS (TEMS) program (which provides paramedic support for regional law enforcement tactical teams), stocking Surge ambulances for regional Mass Casualty Incidents (MCI) and pioneering patient-tracking equipment and procedures for large-scale incidents.

The Milwaukee Fire Department Operations Bureau is headed by Assistant Chief Schuyler L. Belott

The Milwaukee Fire Department Special Operations Division is headed by Deputy Chief Joseph F. Hegeman, Jr.

The Milwaukee Fire Department Special Operations Division has the responsibility for recruiting, training and maintaining the skills of over 200 Special Team members. These Special Team units exercise expertise in three major disciplines: The Hazardous Materials Response Team (HAZMAT), the Heavy Urban Rescue Team (H.U.R.T.) and the Marine Unit. The Deputy Chief of Special Operations responds to all Special Team assignments as well as all third alarm fires as the Rapid Intervention Team (R.I.T.)/Safety Chief.

The Heavy Urban Rescue Team has over 90 members and they operate in 4 disciplines: Rope Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, Trench Rescue and Structural Collapse Rescue.  They are also dispatched on all third alarm fires as Rapid Intervention Team.  The H.U.R.T team operates out of Station 23 (Kinnickinnic River Parkway and Oklahoma) and Station 24 (located at 50^th and Fiebrantz).

The Hazardous Materials Team (HAZMAT)  has over 75 members and operates as a regional response team. The HAZMAT team operates out of the quarters of Engine 33 (located at 45^th & Burnham). 

The Marine Unit has over 60 members and is further divided to include the specially-trained units; Boat Pilots of the MFD Trident fireboat and the Dive Rescue Team. The Dive Rescue Team  and the Trident Pilots operate out of the quarters of Engine 2 (located at James Lovell and Wells).