Clinton Fire Protection District Newsletter – May 2026

 

Summer is Here

Summer is finally here, folks. The sun is out, school will be letting out soon, and there is no shortage of things to do. Whether it’s fishing, tanning, playing sports, grilling out, or just hanging around with family and friends, make sure the fun doesn’t stop by staying safe.

There is no bigger buzzkill than Uncle Todd ruining the cookout because he broke his ankle trying to show the nephews how he was “the original Brett Favre.” We are unfortunately speaking from experience.

 

2nd Annual Clinton Fire Academy Recap

The weekend of May 17th and 18th, CFPD wrapped up its 2nd Annual Fire Academy. Like we talked about in the last edition, this year’s focus was Firemanship 101. The basics. Search, ladders, hose advancement, and building a strong foundation for new firefighters.

This year, the instructors really tried to trim some of the fat and focus on what our members need to know right away once they hit the road. There was a lot of learning, a lot of reps, and a lot of fun throughout the weekend.

We would like to thank all of the recruits who gave up their weekend to come down and improve themselves. That sacrifice matters, and both your department and your community appreciate the effort you put in to becoming better firefighters. The recruits included: FF/EMT Jeff Karstetter, FF/EM Matt Heath, FF/EMT Ava Werhli, Intern TJ Sullivan, Prob FF/EMT Hauser, FF Collin Mulligan and FF/PM Colin Neisius. Instructors included: Lt. Jordan Gustafson, Lt. Zach DuCharme, Lt. Bill Reetz, FF Brian Beals, MPO David Bauer, FF Chris Rutledge, FF/EMT Brandon West,  FF/EMT Nathan DuCharme, FF/EMT Blake Greewell, and FF/EMT Connor Jacobson

Sunday wrapped up with smoke training, where recruits got to experience real smoke conditions in a controlled environment. There is only so much you can learn from PowerPoints before you have to crawl around in heat carrying too much equipment for too little pay.

We are already looking forward to next year.

 

DuCharme Promoted May 5th

Zach DuCharme’s promotion to Lieutenant was something most of us saw coming. Zach joined CFD back in 2022 and has not stopped moving since.

Most of Zach’s family lives in Clinton, and protecting his community has always been important to him. He is constantly training and learning in a profession where nobody will ever know everything. More importantly, he takes what he learns and passes it on to the members around him.

This past year, Zach was hired by the City of Beloit Fire Department, completed the Rockford Fire Academy, and obtained his Paramedic license. We are all pretty confident he has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.

Zach comes from a family of first responders, mostly law enforcement, so service to the community has always been a major part of his life. Outside of work, Zach enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time with family. If he is not doing one of those things, he is probably doing something related to the fire service anyway.

Zach also recently got engaged and purchased land, so apparently he enjoys adding as many responsibilities to his life as possible.

We are excited to see where his leadership and work ethic continue to lead this department.

Congratulations, Lieutenant DuCharme!

(P.S. Zach is also the one writing this newsletter.)

- FF/EMT Nate DuCharme

 

Trainings

May 11th

Members trained on search operations and victim removal techniques. Crews worked through different search scenarios focusing on communication, teamwork, and maintaining orientation in low visibility environments. Firefighters practiced moving efficiently through structures while staying disciplined and methodical during searches. The training reinforced the importance of slowing things down mentally, even when everything around you is loud, hot, and scary.

May 18th

This training focused on strokes and prehospital care. Members reviewed the importance of the “Golden Hour,” early recognition, and rapid treatment decisions that can drastically improve patient outcomes. Crews practiced identifying stroke symptoms using the FAST exam and discussed the importance of quick transport to appropriate facilities. EMS calls can go from “something feels off” to life-changing in a hurry, so recognizing those signs early is critical.

May 27th

Due to Memorial Day falling on our normal training night, this month’s final training was moved to Wednesday evening.

Members were brought back to the basics of search and rescue operations. Training focused on oriented searches, split searches, communication, and effective teamwork inside structures.

The overall message of the night was simple: communication and teamwork solve problems.

As training wrapped up, Lt. DuCharme reminded members, “This is the playbook. You can play outside of it, as long as you work hard and communicate well.”

 

Arnold, Jacobson, and Lt. Reetz Complete the Janesville Fire Academy

Earlier in May, FF/EMT Dinger Arnold, FF/EMT Connor Jacobson, and Lt. Bill Reetz completed a six-week fire academy through Janesville Fire.

Over those six weeks, the group spent countless hours training on everything from fire suppression to water rescue operations. The academy gave them valuable experience and a strong baseline they can continue building on throughout their careers in the fire service. All three members are hopefully planning to return to school this fall, this time pursuing their Paramedic licensure. Continuing their education and expanding their skills will not only benefit their own careers, but also strengthen the level of care CFPD is able to provide to the community. Apparently none of them enjoy having free time.

We are glad to have them back and look forward to learning from the knowledge and experience each of them gained during the academy.

Congratulations, gentlemen!

 

Mulligan Comes Off Probie Status

Another month means another firefighter coming off probationary status. This month, that firefighter is Mr. Collin Mulligan.

“Mulli,” as we call him, is a quieter guy. He may not say much, but he works hard, asks questions, and shows up ready to learn.

After spending time serving in the United States Army, Mulli eventually found his way to Clinton to put down roots. He joined CFPD because it was “something he always wanted to do,” and we are glad he decided to do it.

Congratulations, Mulli!

 

EMS Coordinator Lenz Returns from VetsRoll

As we moved closer to June, VetsRoll made its annual trip to Washington D.C.

Like last year, EMS Coordinator Kathy Lenz joined more than one hundred veterans on the trip to visit Arlington National Cemetery along with the Vietnam, Korea, and World War II memorials.

Kathy’s role during the trip was helping ensure the veterans were cared for so they could focus on taking in the experience and spending time with fellow veterans.

We are extremely proud of Kathy for continuing to volunteer her time for such an important cause. The VetsRoll program is truly something special, and we hope it continues for many years to come.

If you are willing and able, please consider supporting this outstanding organization.

 

De La Torre, Arnold acquire Associate Degrees in Fire Science

Continuing the month of forward progress, both Dinger Arnold and Michelle De La Torre completed their Associate degree programs through Blackhawk Technical College. The two-year program provides a strong foundation for a career in the fire service and helps prepare students for the challenges they will face both on the fireground and in EMS.

Michelle De La Torre will continue serving with CFPD and was recently hired by the Fontana Fire Department. Michelle is also planning to attend Paramedic school this fall as she continues building her career in the fire service.

Dinger Arnold was hired by the Town of Beloit Fire Department earlier this year and recently completed the Janesville Fire Academy, as previously mentioned. The Clinton native plans to remain with CFPD, assuming we continue tolerating him around the station.

 

Conclusion

May was another busy and productive month for CFPD. Between academy training, continued education, promotions, and community involvement, our members continue working hard to improve both individually and as a department.

As summer begins and activity picks up throughout the community, CFPD remains committed to training hard, serving our residents, and being ready when the call comes in.

We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable start to the summer. Please take care of yourselves, look out for one another, and don’t be like Uncle Todd.

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