Hartford, WI – For the past 30 years, Ann Fry-Eickstedt has served with the fire and emergency medical services. Her career in EMS started in the US Army. After serving in the Army as an EMT-Medical Specialist, she joined the Neosho Volunteer Fire Department (October 1992). She served as an Emergency Medical Responder and as their Safety Officer.
In February 1996, Ann was hired as an EMT with the Hartford Emergency Squad, where she worked as a paid-on-call EMT-Basic. On January 1, 2000, the Hartford Emergency Squad merged with the Hartford Fire Department to become the Hartford Fire and Rescue Department.
In January of 2002, Ann was hired as the Hartford Fire and Rescue Department’s 2nd full-time employee. During that year, she became an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician, and the department became the 2nd service in the State of WI to become licensed at the AEMT service level.
Ann continued her education throughout her career. She graduated from Waukesha County Technical College with a Fire Protection and Safety Technician Associates Degree. In addition, she has completed Firefighter I and II, Fire Officer I and II, Fire Inspector, Driver Operator, and most recently held the title of Safety Officer and Fire Inspector. She is a certified emergency services instructor as well as a CPR instructor.
In 2020 Ann became a Licensed EMT-Paramedic and helped lead the department to the Paramedic Service Level in 2021. Along with her assigned duties, she was an APCO Certified Emergency Medical Dispatch Instructor and an adjunct instructor for the Moraine Park Technical College.
Ann was as passionate about fire prevention and safety as she was in emergency medical service. She is retiring as the fire inspector, fire prevention coordinator, and safety officer.
Ann is respected by the department members, the community, and the entire state. She served on the WI State Fire Inspector’s Association Area 6 Region board until resigning from her chairperson position when announcing her retirement.
Her contributions to preserving property and life safety throughout this area will long be remembered. Ann will be genuinely missed by her peers, the citizens, and mostly by Chief Stephans.
