Western Lakes Fire District

Name

Western Lakes Fire District

Legal name

Western Lakes Fire District

Website

https://westernlakesfd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fire and Emergency Medical Services

NAICS

Fire Protection (92216)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Safety Administration (Fire/EMS, Emergency Management) (BPAIACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildfire Suppression & Incident Response (AFAMAEAE), Fire & Life Safety Services (Inspection/Testing/Sprinklers/Alarms) (IMAIAAAI)

Keywords

• Fire suppression services
• Emergency medical services
• Technical rescue operations
• Fire prevention inspections
• Public safety education

Headquarters

HQ city

Oconomowoc

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Revenue: Primary funding through property tax levy across the 11 municipalities served, subject to voter-approved referendum increases due to state-imposed levy limits
2. Voter-Approved Referendum Funding: Additional funding approved through municipal referendums to cover staffing and service improvements beyond standard levy limits. The 2022 referendum sought $6.3 million annually to improve staffing levels.
3. Fire Inspection and Fire Protection Fees: Fee-based services including fire inspections per the Fire Inspection and Fire Protection Fee Schedule
4. Burning Permit Fees: Permit fees for open burning in applicable municipalities

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Western Lakes Fire District is a Wisconsin governmental fire district that provides Emergency Medical Services at the Paramedic level, fire suppression, rescue services, fire prevention, and public education to 11 member municipalities across Waukesha, Dodge, and Jefferson counties. It operates six stations staffed 24/7 with a minimum of 24–28 personnel on duty, and offers specialized capabilities including drone-augmented search and rescue, dive/water-ice rescue, a Rescue Task Force, and a Therapy K9 unit. The district also issues burning permits and provides fee-based fire inspection services under its published Fire Inspection and Fire Protection Fee Schedule.

Product overview

Western Lakes Fire District is a public safety organization, not a technology product company. The District provides a unified emergency services offering centered on fire suppression, emergency medical services (at the Paramedic level), rescue operations, fire prevention, and public education. Specialized capabilities include Search and Rescue with drone operations, Dive Rescue Team, Rescue Task Force, Rehabilitation Unit, Critical Incident Stress Management, Interfacility Ambulance Transports, Bike Patrol, and a Therapy K9 Unit. The District also operates a Full Time Apprenticeship Program that provides free college tuition and paramedic certification in exchange for post-program employment commitment. Burning permits are issued through an online portal. All services are delivered across six stations staffed 24/7, serving 11 municipalities in Waukesha, Dodge, and Jefferson counties, Wisconsin.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Medical Services Advanced Life Support (ALS) emergency medical care provided at paramedic level, including ambulance transport and interfacility transports for residents and visitors across the 11 member municipalities.
• Fire Suppression Firefighting services utilizing engine, quint, and rescue apparatus for structural and wildland fire control across suburban, rural, and wildland-urban interface terrain.
• Rescue Services Technical rescue operations including vehicle extrication and general rescue operations for the district's 215 square mile service area.
• Fire Prevention Fire safety inspections, code enforcement, and fire investigation services provided to properties and facilities within the member municipalities.
• Public Education Community outreach programs, safety education, station open houses, and participation in local events and schools.
• Search and Rescue with Drone Operations Ground search and rescue operations enhanced with drone technology for locating missing persons and providing situational awareness.
• Dive Rescue Team with Surface Water/Ice Rescue Specialized aquatic rescue capabilities including underwater dive operations and water/ice rescue operations across the district's lakes and waterways.
• Rescue Task Force Tactical rescue team deployed for active threat and complex rescue scenarios.
• Rehabilitation Unit On-scene rehabilitation services for firefighters and emergency responders during extended operations.
• Critical Incident Stress Management Peer support and counseling services for personnel and community members experiencing psychological impact from critical incidents.
• Interfacility Ambulance Transports Non-emergency medical transport between healthcare facilities within and beyond the district.
• Bike Patrol Emergency response and patrol services using bicycles for events and areas where vehicles cannot access.
• Therapy K9 Unit Therapy dog program providing emotional support during community engagement and at emergency scenes.
• Full Time Apprenticeship Program Paid apprenticeship program providing free college tuition up to $6,000/year and free paramedic certification, with hourly wage, rent-free station housing, Wisconsin State Retirement enrollment, and 100% post-program job placement at WLFD.
• Burning Permit Online permit system for legal open burning, available to residents in eligible municipalities with specified regulations on pile size, location, timing, and materials.
• Fire Inspection and Fire Protection Services Fee-based fire inspection and fire protection services per the district's published 2026 Fire Inspection and Fire Protection Fee Schedule.

Quantifiable outcome

• Calls for service increased 74% while local paid-on-call staffing decreased 69%, straining response capabilities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Joint Hiring Process with Lac LaBelle Fire DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint hiring process for full-time firefighter/paramedic positions between Western Lakes Fire District and Lac LaBelle Fire Department, enabling shared recruitment and staffing resources.
• Joint Hiring Process with City of Oconomowoc Fire DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint hiring process for full-time firefighter/paramedic positions between Western Lakes Fire District and City of Oconomowoc Fire Department, enabling shared recruitment and staffing resources.
• 11 Municipalities (Fire District Members)coreOthersThe Western Lakes Fire District was built on partnership and spirit of cooperation between municipalities including Town of Ashippun, Town of Concord, Village of Dousman, Village of Lac La Belle, City of Oconomowoc, Town of Oconomowoc, Town of Ottawa, Town of Sullivan, Village of Sullivan, and Village of Summit to provide fire/EMS services in the most fiscally responsible and efficient manner.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• TargetSolutions (Vector Solutions): Training and compliance management platform used by WLFD (linked from their staff page). Comparable as a technology/infrastructure enabler for fire department operations, training records, and credential tracking, rather than a direct service peer.
• Kettle Moraine State Forest (Wisconsin DNR): State-managed forest with significant wildland-urban interface overlap with WLFD's service area. Comparable as a wildland fire and search-and-rescue stakeholder, though a public land-management agency rather than an emergency service provider.

Broad incumbents

• Falck USA: Global private ambulance and emergency services provider with US operations. Comparable in core EMS and interfacility transport offerings, but a commercial operator and broader geographic footprint than a single municipal district.
• American Medical Response (AMR): National private ambulance and interfacility transport provider. Comparable in interfacility ambulance transport service line and EMS staffing scale, but operates commercially rather than as a tax-funded public district and competes primarily in larger urban markets.

Direct peers

• City of Oconomowoc Fire Department: Adjacent municipal fire department in the same county that shares a joint hiring process with WLFD. Directly comparable in service mix (fire, EMS, rescue) and target community profile, but smaller jurisdictional scope and not part of the consolidated district.
• North Shore Fire Department: Consolidated multi-municipal fire department in the Milwaukee metro area providing fire suppression, EMS, and specialized rescue. Comparable in consolidated governance model, paramedic-level service, and suburban service mix.
• Lac La Belle Fire Department: Small municipal fire department that participates in WLFD's joint hiring process for full-time firefighter/paramedic positions. Directly comparable in EMS-level service and suburban-rural service profile; one of the 11 municipalities that originally consolidated.
• Lake Country Fire & Rescue: Consolidated multi-municipal fire district in Waukesha County providing fire, EMS, and rescue services across member communities. Highly comparable operating model to WLFD, including consolidated service-area structure, paramedic-level EMS, and property-tax funding.

Regional players

• Menomonee Falls Fire Department: Suburban Milwaukee-area fire department providing fire, EMS, and rescue services to a comparable suburban-rural mix. Comparable in service portfolio and demographic profile, but operates as a single-municipality department rather than a consolidated district.
• Waukesha Fire Department: Larger city fire department in the same county providing fire suppression, EMS, and rescue services. Comparable in core service offering and regional mutual-aid relationship, but operates in a denser urban environment and is a city department rather than a multi-municipal district.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/westernlakesfd
• Xx.com/westernlakesfd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/western-lakes-fire-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Western Lakes Fire District