New Stanley Fire Chief Korey Hagenson appeared before the Stanley Common Council at its most recent meeting this past Monday, February 17, giving them his vision for a rebuilt Stanley Fire Department. Along with a $5,000 truck pump that needs to be replaced due to what was revealed to be a bad ball plug, Hagenson said he wanted to start pump testing early, with the aim being for the Stanley department’s inspections to be in sync with those of the Thorp and Owen fire departments.

“They won’t charge to come over,” he said in relation to the inspectors who will be coming to the area for the two nearby municipal fire department’s regularly scheduled ladder testing later this year. By scheduling inspections to coincide those of other area departments, the Stanley Fire Department can save money in the budget. But as far as the department’s raised and extendable truck ladder went, Hagenson said it can’t be used at present.

“As far as that ladder coming off the truck, it can’t” Hagenson told the council at its last meeting. “If something happens, it’s on us.” Given the potential liability for the city, Fire Chief Hagenson said that he was working with other fire departments in the area who did have a ladder to use, among them the departments in Chippewa Falls and Cadott. Additionally, Hagenson said he was going to call CVTC about holding a six-hour class at the Stanley Fire Hall. Meanwhile, when asked for his own update, former interim fire chief Ron Patten had comment of his own.

“I’m pretty much done over there,” Patten said of the Stanley Fire Department, giving praise to new Fire Chief Hagenson for his efforts. “He’s come a long way in the last ten months,” Patten said of Hagenson when reached for comment by telephone. Along the way, Patten said that Hagenson went to officer’s training last Fall, before becoming the Assistant Fire Chief and learning to do truck maintenance. Now, it’s mostly the office stuff that Patten helps Hagenson out with, answering any questions by phone when Hagenson has them. There’s also the progress that’s been made within the fire department itself.

“No, everything’s been updated and it’s in compliance with what the State of Wisconsin requires,” Patten said in relation whether there were any remaining issues with the Stanley Fire Department regarding state certification requirements. But there is at least one thing left it seems.

“At some point they’ll have to appoint an Assistant Fire Chief,” Patten said of the ongoing rebuild currently underway at the Stanley Fire Department, or SFD. Fire Chief Hagenson has stated previously that he wants to put more firefighters through officer’s training before rebuilding the chain of command at SFD. The other firefighters were said by Patten to also have put in a lot of work of their own in terms of undergoing the necessary training and getting up to date certification over the past 10 months.