Clinton Fire Protection District Newsletter- January 2026

Happy New Year!

We hope everyone had a great holiday season with friends and family. A new year is officially here, and CFPD is going to keep on keeping on. January has already been a strong start for the district and its members. Here’s what’s been happening:

Going to the Big Show!

This month, several of our members took a major step toward fulfilling their dream of becoming full-time firefighters.

FF/EMT Michelle De La Torre
FF/EMT Connor Jacobson
FF/EMT Mark “Dinger” Arnold
Lt. Bill Reetz

All have accepted positions with full-time fire departments.

This is a huge accomplishment, and we couldn’t be prouder. And because we are so proud, we’ll be spotlighting each member and their new journey.

As you may remember from a previous edition of the newsletter, Michelle is the proud owner of two wiener dogs… but she’s got more going on than that.

Michelle has secured a full-time position with the City of Beloit Fire Department. She bleeds Beloit through and through, having attended Beloit Memorial High School, worked at Beloit Memorial Hospital, and now continuing her service to the community at the Beloit Fire Department.

De La Torre will be taking a short break from CFPD to attend the Janesville Fire Department Fire Academy in March.

Connor is one of the nicest people you’ll meet anywhere, and as he always says, “That’s awesome.” He’s also one of the most in-tune members at CFPD with what the fire service is truly about.

Connor treats everyone he meets like family, and that character is exactly what makes him such a strong firefighter.

Connor has accepted a full-time opportunity with the City of Beloit Fire Department, returning home to serve his hometown. We know he’s going to do incredible things for Beloit.

Connor will join De La Torre at the Janesville Fire Academy in March.

Dinger is the definition of a dawg, a hard-working, high-energy, unapologetic dawg. At the same time, he’s also one of the goofiest members at CFPD. Opposites attract, even within one person.

Dinger is always at the tip of the spear during training, calls, and even just hanging around the station. He’s the “bring-your-lunch-pail-to-work” type, first one in, last one out, and the guy who would give you the shirt off his back.

That hard work has paid off, as Dinger has accepted a full-time position with the Town of Beloit Fire Department. With Clinton being his hometown, you won’t be seeing Dinger go anywhere anytime soon. He’s a Clintonite through and through.

Last but not least is Lt. Billy Reetz, who has accepted a full-time opportunity with the Town of Beloit Fire Department.

Billy is the proud owner of Big Red Motorworks and the father of two. He brings a jack-of-all-trades skillset and strong mechanical ability to his new employer.

We look forward to seeing Lt. Reetz gain new experience, develop further as a Firefighter/EMT, and continue growing in this career. Reetz will remain in his Lieutenant position.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to all of our members taking the next big step into full-time fire service. CFPD is proud of you, and we’re excited to see what you accomplish next.

Taking off the Training Wheels

As we move into the new year, FF Matt Heath has officially completed his probationary phase. Matt has a genuine passion for all things firefighting and is always looking to improve his skills. He’s known for reaching out to fellow members, often asking if anyone wants to spend even an hour training. That kind of initiative doesn’t go unnoticed.

We’re excited to see Matt continue learning the craft and growing in his fire service career. Congratulations, Matt!

January Trainings

With the blistering cold in January, CFPD opted to train indoors as frequently as possible.

This month, members spent time starting and running chainsaws and K-12 saws. Crews got repetitions cutting wood, metal, and other materials we may encounter on emergency scenes.

For our monthly EMS training, our EMS medical directors from Beloit Memorial Hospital invited hospice and palliative care nurses to speak with our providers. They explained their mission and how EMS and Hospice/Palliative Care can work together to provide the best care for patients.

To wrap up the month, members reviewed forcible entry techniques. Sometimes, getting to the emergency means forcing a door or window. Crews practiced forcing both inward- and outward-swinging doors to stay sharp on this essential skill. Thank you to Blackhawk Technical College for lending us the Forcible Entry Prop!

So far, 2026 is off to a strong start at CFPD. Our members continue to show up, put in the work, and represent this district with pride—whether that’s taking the next step into the full-time fire service, training hard despite Wisconsin winter conditions, or simply answering the call when the tones drop.

As we move into the new year, CFPD remains committed to high standards, strong training, and taking care of our community and each other. The job doesn’t get easier, but we keep getting better. We’re proud of where we’re headed and excited to see what this year brings.