Clinton Fire Protection District Newsletter- August 2025

August was a month of milestones and momentum for Clinton Fire. From sharpening our skills on the training ground to celebrating the achievements of our newest full-fledged firefighters, the department continued to grow stronger as a team. This month’s highlights reflect both our commitment to readiness and the pride we take in every member who earns the right to wear the badge. Here’s a quick look at what happened at CFPD in August and what’s coming up next.

Annual Drivers Training

This month we held our annual drivers training. Members got behind the wheel of both the engine and the ambulance, running through cones and obstacle courses to sharpen their skills.

Probies No More

At the end of August, three more Probationary Firefighters became Suppression Qualified and received their new helmet shields:

• Nathan “Squared” DuCharme
   
• Connor “No-Show” Jacobson
   
• Blake “Greeny” Greenwell
   

Nate started with CFPD shortly before graduating from Clinton High School. Coming from a long line of first responders, he’s eager to carve out his own spot in the Fire Service. Nate joins his older brother, Zach, as the second DuCharme on the department, which is where the nickname “Squared” comes from. It also fits his reputation for being “squared away,” as he’s always looking for ways to improve both on the ambulance and the engine. Nate brings a strong work ethic and sharp thinking to the job, and he truly understands what it means to wear the badge. He currently holds Fire I and EMT certifications and will soon be checked off to run the ambulance without a preceptor. This fall, Nate will attend Fire II and MPO at CFD. Congratulations, Nate!

Like Squared, Greeny joined the department around the time of his high school graduation. He currently holds the title of bluest duty pants in the department—but in all seriousness, he’s already Fire I & II certified and will be attending EMT and MPO classes this fall. Greeny brings a strong work ethic and an intense hunger to train. He’s often down at the station on his off days working with the duty crew on both EMS and fire skills. Greeny embodies the passion to learn that we want from a new firefighter. Keep learning and the good will follow! Congratulations, Greeny!

Connor first worked as a CNA but decided to give firefighting a try—and hasn’t looked back since. He earned the nickname “No-Show” after only coming in to pick up his gear for Fire I, but once he started training, he was all in, and the name stuck. Now the nickname couldn’t be further from the truth. Alongside Greeny, Connor has completed Fire I & II and will be taking EMT and MPO this fall. The two are often around the station looking to learn from senior members. Connor brings a deep passion for serving the community and treats every person he comes across like family. The Fire Service needs more people like him. Congratulations, Connor!

Academy Recap

Academy Recap

On August 16th and 17th, CFPD held its very first Recruit Academy. The purpose of this academy was to take our newer members back to the basics of firefighting—through two days of focused, hands-on, and physically demanding training.

The first Academy included:

• Mark “Dinger” Arnold
• Blake “Greeny” Greenwell
• Connor “No-Show” Jacobson
• Michelle De La Torre
• Nathan “Squared” DuCharme
• Vanessa Thompson
• Matt Heath
• Jeff Karstetter

Over the course of the weekend, recruits drilled on:

• Hose line advancement and proper nozzle techniques
• Coordinated Fire Attack 
• Ground ladder carries, raises, and climbing techniques
• Search and rescue patterns in simulated low-visibility conditions
• Water supply and tender operations
• SCBA confidence and air management

The academy was intentionally fast-paced and challenging, pushing each recruit both mentally and physically. The goal wasn’t just to teach skills, but to build confidence, teamwork, and the ability to operate under stress.

A special thank you goes out to all the instructors who gave their time and energy to share their knowledge. From engine operations to ladders, each skill was broken down, practiced, and repeated until it became muscle memory. We also want to thank the recruits for their commitment—they sacrificed a weekend to push themselves harder and come out stronger.

This academy marks an important step forward for CFPD training. By building a strong foundation early, our new members are more prepared to step up on the fireground and support their crews. This will not be the last academy—our goal is to continue developing this program into a regular tradition at CFPD.

Education

As the school year kicks off, many of our members are back to the books. Their commitment to continuing education makes our department stronger, and we can’t thank them enough.

• FF/EMT Zach DuCharme and EMT Jadah Wegmuller are attending Mercy Hospital’s Paramedic Program. This rigorous year-long class covers new medications and advanced lifesaving skills.
   
• FF Greenwell and FF Jacobson are attending EMT at Gateway Technical College.
   
• FF/EMT Nathan DuCharme will be attending Fire II at Gateway.
   
• Several members will be attending the MPO class at CFD, where they’ll learn to safely handle apparatus and properly pump water on the fireground—without a good MPO, the attack grinds to a standstill.
   
• Matt Heath and Jeff Karstetter are starting Fire I at Blackhawk Tech.

As we move into the fall season, we carry forward the lessons, dedication, and camaraderie that defined August. Whether it’s pushing ourselves on the drill field or standing side by side on calls, we are reminded that progress comes through practice, and strength comes from one another. Congratulations again to our new suppression-qualified members—we look forward to the impact you’ll continue to make in the months ahead.