Retiring fire chief Cleveland discusses simple, needed upgrades for dept. living conditions

Recent report identified $27 million in improvements needed.

Its the last day on the job today for retiring La Crosse fire chief Gregg Cleveland.

The 11-year chief stopped by the WIZM studios Thursday and talked about the need to improve fire stations or bring them up to date for safety’s sake – everyone’s safety.

“We invite children and school kids to the fire station,” Cleveland explained. “What do they do? They’re putting on our dirty, sweaty, carcinogen laden gear. 

“They’re climbing all over our fire trucks. And, they’re taking it home with them.”

A recent report identified $27 million in upgrades and improvements needed for city fire facilities. Those include simply getting diesel exhaust out of the fire stations and having places for firefighters to wash their uniforms.  

“Fire fighters are two times [more] likely to die of cacner,” Cleveland said. “One of the reasons why, we go to a fire and we hang our gear in the station right where we live. And the stuff continues to off gas and we’re breathing that stuff in

“I guarantee you that if any other city employee lived in, we’d have the state dept of health down there. But, again, the fire fighter mentality is we make due with what we’ve got.” 

Among the facility upgrades getting studied by the city is a new fire station on the south side.  

Cleveland hasn’t seen much community support for improvements to the fire stations workplace – and living quarters. 

“Nobody really cares about the fire dept.,” he said. “Nobody really cares until you have an emergency. Then, all of the sudden, you’re the greatest thing since canned beer.”

Taking over for Cleveland is former St. Paul deputy fire chief Ken Gilliam, who began working in La Crosse June 18 and was sworn in June 28 (right). Gilliam was also the director of rescue and training at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College.