Sun Prairie Fire & EMS - EMS Divison

02/14/2026

City services play a key role in the quality of life here in Sun Prairie. Over time, due to inflation, increased costs and community growth, providing the same services cost more. Even after reducing long-term costs by more than $1 million, additional funding is needed to maintain existing services.

Visit https://www.cityofsunprairie.com/1997/City-of-Sun-Prairie-April-2026-Referendu for more information.

02/05/2026

You've had a ton of questions for us lately - and we're loving getting to answer you!

Today's Question: Why does a fire engine respond to a medical call?

02/04/2026

We recently received a great question: Why don’t Sun Prairie Paramedics transport every patient to UW Health East Madison Hospital since it’s the closest facility to Sun Prairie?

Totally fair question — and the answer has a few parts.

When EMS transports someone to a hospital, the destination isn’t just “the closest building with an ER.” It’s based on what the patient needs, what services each hospital can provide, and regional EMS protocols designed to get patients to the right level of care as quickly as possible.

Here are the main reasons someone may not go to the closest community hospital:

1) Specialty capabilities for time-critical emergencies

Some conditions do best when patients go straight to a higher-capability center — even if it’s a little farther:

• Major trauma (serious injuries): often best served at larger trauma centers such as UW Hospital or SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital.

• Severe stroke: Some strokes require advanced interventions that are only available at larger medical centers like UW Hospital and SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital.

• Heart attack / cardiac emergencies: patients may need rapid access to a cardiac cath lab, which isn’t available at every ER. SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital and UW Hospital are the only two facilities in Dane County that offer this service in emergencies and outside of normal business hours.

• Children with emergencies: American Family Children’s Hospital is often the most appropriate destination because pediatric expertise and equipment matter (kids aren’t just small adults).

2) Community hospital vs. tertiary medical center

Facilities like UW Health East Madison Hospital provide important 24/7 emergency care locally, but not every hospital is built to handle every high-acuity specialty case on-site (for example, advanced stroke procedures or emergency cardiac cath lab care). In some situations, the safest plan is to bypass to a higher-level center that can provide definitive specialty care immediately.

3) OB and neonatal needs

Pregnancy-related emergencies and newborn issues sometimes require specific OB and neonatal resources that aren’t available at every hospital. UnityPoint Health–Meriter and SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital are common destinations for OB and neonatal care in our region, depending on the situation and the patient’s needs. Neither UW Hospital nor UW Health East Madison Hospital offers OB care.

4) Patient preference + medical system factors

When it’s clinically appropriate, patients can request a destination (especially if they have an established specialist or care team). Insurance networks and follow-up needs can also factor in — as long as it doesn’t delay or compromise appropriate care.

Bottom line: we don’t transport to hospitals at random — we match patients to the right resources. Sometimes that means UW Health East Madison Hospital for fast local access. Other times, it means going a bit farther to ensure the patient reaches a facility like UW Hospital, SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital, or American Family Children’s Hospital that can provide higher-level trauma, stroke, cardiac, pediatric, or OB care right away.

02/03/2026

Sun Prairie EMS at a glance....

01/27/2026

There have been many questions asked in regards to why Sun Prairie EMS is no longer servicing the Marshall area. Here are some facts why:

Sun Prairie EMS discontinued service to the Marshall area due to financial unsustainability and operational strain. The department continued to raise revenue from the townships, but service to that area required approximately $1.3 million annually and resulted in significant funding gaps. The Marshall station was only producing about 1.5 calls per day, and if Sun Prairie had continued the service, its own residents would have absorbed a portion of the cost.

Furthermore, operational issues made it difficult to maintain service levels. The 2023 closure of the local emergency center added significant travel time, and the long distance to the Marshall area put strain on overall service levels. When the partner municipalities could not agree to a funding increase to continue the partnership, they chose to transition to a private provider instead.

Sun Prairie EMS now focuses on the City of Sun Prairie, the Town of Sun Prairie, and the Town of Bristol, while retaining mutual aid agreements for surrounding areas, including Marshall, when needed.

01/23/2026

We hear your concerns, Sun Prairie is growing fast, and we know that growth brings frustration. However, to keep our community safe in 2026 and beyond, we must address three critical challenges facing our Fire Division. Click through the images below to learn more. If approved, the referendum will allow us to hire two full-time firefighters and increase wages for our part-time firefighters to ensure we can retain the staff needed for rapid response.

01/22/2026

ALERT: An Extreme Cold Warning is in effect from Midnight Thursday until 1 p.m. Friday, with wind chills ranging from -20°F to -30°F. Extremely low temperatures are expected to persist through Saturday. Tomorrow, most City buildings will be closed in order to keep our staff safe and limit time spent outdoors. However, the Sun Prairie Public Library will be open from Noon-6 p.m. and can be used as a place to escape the cold. Additionally, all emergency services will be available for the community.

As temperatures plummet, the City of Sun Prairie is committed to ensuring your safety and well-being. If you are need of assistance keeping warm during extreme cold, please call the Sun Prairie Police Department’s non-emergency line at (608) 837-7336. A temporary heating space will be available upon request for individuals and families while heating issues are being resolved.
Safety is a top priority. If you or someone you know is experiencing an emergency related to the cold, such as frostbite or hypothermia, please call 911 immediately.

Two drop box locations will be available for tax collection despite City buildings being closed. If you'd like a receipt, you'll need to include a self-addressed stamped envelope.

-City Hall Police Department Lobby, 300 E. Main St. (Green drop box is through the first set of doors - through the Main Street entrance).

-Westside Community Service Building, 2598 W. Main St. (drop box slot is inside the first set of doors by the parking lot).

01/22/2026

ALERT: An Extreme Cold Warning is in effect from Midnight Thursday until 1 p.m. Friday, with wind chills ranging from -20°F to -30°F. Extremely low temperatures are expected to persist through Saturday. Tomorrow, most City buildings will be closed in order to keep our staff safe and limit time spent outdoors. However, the Sun Prairie Public Library will be open from Noon-6 p.m. and can be used as a place to escape the cold. Additionally, all emergency services will be available for the community.

As temperatures plummet, the City of Sun Prairie is committed to ensuring your safety and well-being. If you are need of assistance keeping warm during extreme cold, please call the Sun Prairie Police Department’s non-emergency line at (608) 837-7336. A temporary heating space will be available upon request for individuals and families while heating issues are being resolved.

Safety is a top priority. If you or someone you know is experiencing an emergency related to the cold, such as frostbite or hypothermia, please call 911 immediately.

Two drop box locations will be available for tax collection despite City buildings being closed. If you'd like a receipt, you'll need to include a self-addressed stamped envelope.

-City Hall Police Department Lobby, 300 E. Main St. (Green drop box is through the first set of doors - through the Main Street entrance).
-Westside Community Service Building, 2598 W. Main St. (drop box slot is inside the first set of doors by the parking lot).

01/16/2026

01/12/2026

City of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, USA
Sun Prairie voters will see a referendum question on April 7 ballots. Additional funding, if approved, would be used to maintain quality existing services and programs the community enjoys, as well as hire additional staff to improve public safety services. Learn more by visiting https://cityofsunprairie.com/1997/City-of-Sun-Prairie-April-2026-Referendu?fbclid=IwY2xjawPSLQNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFuSVcwYzhacmw5ZmFBTFpsc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHodABinmkIT9RHh0o4uG31gCWquKFhRQhyqzywpbzTITWQIc-CIlraK_JrFr_aem_ubf7kNBrJBhhsSAphmdkFw

01/08/2026

Wednesay we celebrated an incredible milestone - Gladys' 100th birthday at Colonial View Apartments.
Happy 100th Birthday, Gladys!
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On behalf of our residents and staff, I would like to sincerely thank you and your team for attending the 100th birthday celebration for Gladys.

Your presence meant so much to Gladys and to everyone who attended. It was a wonderful reminder of the genuine care, compassion, and dedication your department shows toward our community. Taking the time to celebrate such a meaningful milestone speaks volumes about your commitment to the people you serve.

Thank you for all that you do to support, protect, and care for our community. We are truly grateful for your continued kindness and engagement.

YOU are the BEST!
Kara Premus
Administrator
Colonial View Apartments

01/07/2026

Sun Prairie Fire and EMS Chief speaks on end of service to surrounding communities

SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. (WKOW) — December 31, 2025, marked the end of Sun Prairie Fire and EMS serving the Village of Marshall and the towns of Medina and York. On