Showing Up for Their Community, Serving Without Hesitation

When the Brownsville Fire Company gets a call they show up, no matter the hour. They don’t ask who. They just go, protecting their neighbors across their Brownsville, Wisconsin, community. That spirit is what drives their volunteers and what led one team member to nominate the department for Compeer’s National Heroes Day Giveaway.

The department was one of three randomly selected from over 1,400 entries submitted across Compeer’s territory in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Each recipient received a $2,500 gift to support their continued service and recognize the role rural first responders play in keeping communities safe.

For Jenifer Oechsner, an emergency medical responder with Brownsville Fire Company for the past seven years, the giveaway was a way to show appreciation for the people she relies on during every call.

“When I go on a call, I’m never alone,” she said. “You don’t always say thank you in the moment. But when you get home, you realize — if I didn’t have this person with me, would we have saved someone? What would I have done without them? It’s a team. We’re all heroes. I wanted to give back to everybody.”

Founded in 1912, Brownsville Fire Company has long been a constant in the community, offering both fire protection and emergency medical services. Its 34 volunteer members serve over 100 square miles across Brownsville, Lomira, LeRoy and Byron, responding to structure fires, field fires, accidents and medical calls.

Rooted in Service, Facing New Challenges

While their commitment runs deep, the department faces familiar rural challenges. Recruiting younger volunteers is increasingly difficult, and equipment and facility needs often outpace available funding.

“Volunteerism is one of the toughest things right now,” said fire chief Kelly Thomas. “We’re retaining a lot of seasoned volunteers. We have some volunteers that are in their 70s and they’re still driving truck and operating machinery for us. We cherish those people, but to get the young ones in, that’s a concern.”

The department relies on local fundraisers and grant applications to meet its needs. The $2,500 gift from Compeer relieves pressure in the budget and provides space to respond to what matters most.

“It helps me not have to worry about where to find extra money if we need to dig a little deeper someplace,” Kelly said.

That’s why gifts like Compeer’s can make a meaningful difference.

“There’s so many of the apparatus that we need and we can’t afford,” said Jenifer. “You’ll get on a call and it’s like, oh boy, I wish we would’ve had this to help us. So, this is very appreciated.”

Yet for Oechsner, the real reward is knowing the department can continue doing what it does best, supporting each other and their neighbors. 

“The feelings we’ve gotten back from families — knowing that if we weren’t there, the outcome might have been different — that means something,” she said.