Fire Department · Career
North Shore Fire Department
Glendale, WI · Milwaukee County
Serves seven North Shore municipalities (Bayside, Brown Deer, Fox Point, Glendale, River Hills, Shorewood, Whitefish Bay) reported at approximately 65,000-68,000 residents. Current front-line apparatus includes 4 engines, 2 ladder trucks, 2 water tenders,
No active openings right now
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Department careers page ↗North Shore Fire/Rescue was formed in the early-to-mid 1990s when Bayside, Brown Deer, Fox Point, Glendale, River Hills, Shorewood, and Whitefish Bay consolidated their seven separate municipal fire departments into a single agency, a merger that required agreement among seven village presidents, 49 trustees, and seven village managers and cut the combined apparatus fleet from 41 units down to 26. The department has commissioned outside research (a Public Policy Forum study, "Come Together") examining the consolidation's cost and service impacts.
Today the department runs five stations (81-85, headquartered at Station 81/82) covering about 25 square miles of Milwaukee County's North Shore, an area that spans Lake Michigan shoreline, the I-43 corridor, and commercial centers like Bayshore Town Center. It fields front-line engines, ladder trucks, water tenders, and its own ALS/BLS ambulance fleet, and describes itself as an all-hazards agency handling fire suppression, EMS, hazmat response, and water/ice rescue. ISO reaffirmed the department's Public Protection Classification at 2 in hydrant areas and 4 in non-hydrant areas following a 2020 review.
New hires go through an in-house, six-week Fire Academy (weekdays, 8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.) covering fire and EMS skills before becoming probationary firefighters. The department also runs an unpaid Cadet/Intern pipeline for area high schoolers, and its firefighters maintain a dedicated Honor Guard, North Shore Professional Firefighters Honor Guard Local 1440, formed in 2001 after the line-of-duty death of Heavy Equipment Operator Ben DeStefanis.
MissionTo protect and save lives and property through exceptionally trained and dedicated professionals.
No sworn firefighter/paramedic vacancies are currently posted on the department's site; the visible openings are unpaid Cadet Firefighter and Intern Firefighter positions for area high schoolers, both listed as open until filled. New sworn hires complete an in-house six-week Fire Academy covering fire and EMS skills before becoming Probationary Firefighters.
Requirements
- Cadet Program: must be a high school junior or senior residing in the North Shore service area; eligible to begin monthly trainings at age 15
- Intern Firefighter: open to Cadets who have completed their senior-year program; mandatory attendance expected
Hiring process
- Complete the Cadet Application form
- Department reviews the submitted application
- Interview with the Program Coordinator (Battalion Chief Jeremy Boehlke)
Benefits
The Cadet Program provides fire equipment and covers tuition for Firefighter Level I and EMT-Basic courses at Milwaukee Area Technical College; both the Cadet and Intern programs are unpaid.
New hires complete a six-week, Monday-Friday (8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.) in-house Fire Academy covering fire and EMS training before becoming Probationary Firefighters.
What communities does North Shore Fire/Rescue protect?
North Shore Fire/Rescue is a consolidated department serving seven Milwaukee County municipalities: Bayside, Brown Deer, Fox Point, Glendale, River Hills, Shorewood, and Whitefish Bay, covering about 25 square miles.
Is North Shore Fire/Rescue a consolidated agency?
Yes. It was formed in the early-to-mid 1990s when seven separate municipal fire departments merged into a single agency, requiring agreement among seven village presidents, 49 trustees, and seven village managers.
What is North Shore Fire/Rescue's ISO Public Protection Classification?
The department holds an ISO rating of 2 in areas with fire hydrants and 4 in areas without, reaffirmed after a 2020 re-evaluation.
Does the department offer a program for high school students interested in firefighting?
Yes, the Cadet Program is open to high school juniors and seniors in the North Shore area (trainings begin at age 15); it is unpaid but covers Firefighter I and EMT-Basic tuition at Milwaukee Area Technical College. Cadets who finish their senior year may move into the Intern Firefighter program.
What is North Shore Fire/Rescue's mission?
"To protect and save lives and property through exceptionally trained and dedicated professionals."