Answering the Call: A Look at the Challenges Facing our Fire and EMS Responders

Virtual event | December 12, 2025 | 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

On December 12 our virtual event series, Forum Friday, focused on the challenges facing fire and EMS responders throughout Wisconsin. Forum research has documented the mounting financial, staffing, and service-provision issues that these agencies are seeing. We also talked about potential solutions and what more could be done.

Our Forum Friday panelists included:

Timothy Heiman Fire Chief City of Oshkosh	Tanya Reynen Fire Chief/Emergency Manager City of Watertown	James Small Rural EMS Outreach Program Manager University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health	Robert Whitaker Fire Chief North Shore Fire Department

December 2025 Forum Friday PowerPoint Slides

During Forum Fridays, we discuss a timely research topic and invite notable guests and Forum members to join the conversation. We hope this can be another way to keep you informed and connected on our state’s most pressing public policy issues. Stay tuned for more Forum Friday events in the near future!

Forum Friday Sponsors