Summer Block Parties
The Department regularly attends block parties to engage with the community and spread risk reduction messages. This past weekend Truck 83 attended a block party in the 3500 N. Block of Frederick Ave in Shorewood. One of the attendees sent the following note and pictures.

"Thank you so much for arranging this visit of a fire truck to our block party yesterday! Children and adults alike were enthralled with the presentation. 
It exceeded my expectations! The 4 guys who came with the truck did an outstanding job. Really appreciate it."

Thank you to Lt. Peter Ziegelbauer, HEO/PM Joshua Dibb and FF/PMs Steven Tippel, Jonah Meidl Zahorodny and Frank Lowry for a great job!
Weekly Update
  • Chief Whitaker met with North Shore Managers/Administrator this week to discuss Departmental issues that impact the seven municipalities.
  • All personnel participated in emergency vehicle operations training this week.
  • August Administrative Staff Meeting was held on Tuesday. Summary of meeting is here. Major topics discussed included:
  • Accountability of daily work tasks
  • 2022 Shift/Station Selection Process
  • Future organizational structure changes at company officer level
  • Review of recent open water rescue training outcomes and operational improvement suggestions
  • Scheduling of 20th anniversary ceremony of September 11, 2001
Text to 911 Services Coming to BCC
Over the next month, Bayside Communications Center and the seven municipalities served by the Center will be rolling out Text to 911 Services.

Text to 911 allows mobile users to send a text message to a 911 Dispatcher in situations where people cannot voice a call to 911.

Who Should Use Text to 911?:
  • An individual who is deaf, hard of hearing or has a speech disability
  • Someone who is in a situation where it is not safe to place a voice call to 911.
  • A medical emergency that renders a person incapable of speech.

While Text to 911 provides beneficial services in situations like those above, there are limitations.
  • Text to 911 sessions overall take longer to complete than voice calls.
  • Location accuracy varies by carrier.
  • Photos, videos and group texts are not supported currently.
  • Text to 911 only accepts English