Wautoma Fire Department celebrates 125 years of service

In times of need, the community can always turn to the local fire department. The Wautoma Fire Department has been serving and protecting the community for 125 years.
It’s hard to imagine a time before having a reliable department, but Wautoma was just a small village relying on simple bucket brigades in the early 1900s. Everything changed the night of April 29, 1901, when a fire broke out on Main Street. The blaze destroyed nearly every wooden structure, including the county courthouse. Only the old grist mill and Argus newspaper building escaped destruction.
According to an old newspaper clipping, “People from surrounding villages arrived to inspect the ruins for days. Every nook and corner in this village is now utilized. Even barns are being used for residential purposes.”
To prevent a repeat of this tragedy, the village council provided the funds to purchase the village’s first-ever fire truck. Despite this, five fires destroyed most of Wautoma between 1901 and 1939.
The first department originally started with 32 members and now has 36 members in 2026. Wautoma’s department would be the 23rd department to be formed across the entire state of Wisconsin. The department officially became a district in 1994.

Throughout its history, the department has seen monumental events. Current members, former chiefs, and other key members sat down to share some of their most memorable stories over the last half-century.
In the 1970s, the Walker Lumberyard Fire was sparked by a local arsonist. This incident was memorable because members recalled that the mill pond had been drained, leaving the department with no water.
In later years, a fire destroyed the Chinese restaurant located where the Two20 Main St. patio now sits. Firefighter Neil Stafford was inside the building when the floor suddenly dropped about four feet. An insurance shop, which did not burn, was taken out by smoke damage.
Other fires throughout recent history you may remember are the 572-acre Crystal Lake wildfire of 2003, the original StoneRidge fire of 2005 (where Ace Hardware now is), the Dakota saloon fire of 2017, and the 830-acre Pallet Fire of 2023.
Despite the title, a fire department also protects the community in several different events. Members remember a flooding incident on Main Street, when they could actually see trout and other fish swimming across the road and down Main Street. This incident highlights the department’s role beyond firefighting, as they spent hours directing traffic and pumping out flooded residential basements. The department has also assisted in several car and plane accidents, cargo spills, and severe weather events such as the 1992 tornado.
While the department was born out of a need to fight structure fires, it has gained a variety of skills. Wautoma is the only department in Waushara that still has a dive team. Firefighters are also constantly training and learning new skills. Medical and rescue calls are the most common types of calls the department responds to, which means EMR (Emergency Medical Responder) and first aid skills are essential for firefighters.
Wautoma is also successfully running a Junior Cadet Program for high school students. This past school year, Olivia Miller, a student from Wautoma High School, earned her Firefighter 1 state certification before even entering her senior year. She will now complete her EMR training.
The department has evolved in several ways throughout the years, but they remain consistent in its public involvement. This has not gone unnoticed by the community, who helped raise two-thirds of the cost of the new fire truck.

Celebrate the Wautoma Fire Department 125th Anniversary on Saturday, Aug. 1
The Wautoma Fire Department invites you to celebrate their 125th Anniversary during an event on Saturday, Aug. 1. The celebration kicks off with an emergency vehicle parade at 1 p.m., starting from Waupaca to Oxford Street, to the Waushara County Fairgrounds.

From there, festivities will take place at the fairgrounds. An apparatus display will be showcased starting at 3 p.m. Live music starts with an acoustic, country vibe from Brigitta Gresl from 3 to 6 p.m. During that time, challenge yourself to the corn hole tournament, which will have a 100% prize payout. You can also have the chance to win one of the homemade wooden corn hole boards.
Bring the kids for activities, fire hoses, bouncy houses, face painting, and more. Stay later in the night for more music, with Boomboxx taking the stage from 7 to 11 p.m. Food and refreshments will also be available throughout the event.
Join in on celebrating a department that has become a valued part of our community. The Wautoma Fire Department will continue to grow alongside our county for the next 100 years.