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Janesville Fire Fighters Local 580

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Janesville Fire Fighters Local 580

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Janesville, Wisconsin is located in south central Wisconsin has a population of 75,000 city and rural residents. Janesville Fire Department operates out of five fire stations, providing both fire and paramedic level emergency medical services. In addition, JFD personnel make up Rock County's only Level B Hazardous Material Team. Many members also serve on other speciality teams such as Dive Rescue and Technical Rescue. With the Rock River running through the middle of the city and many dams present, all personnel are trained in Still & Swift Water Rescue. Fire/EMS protection covers the City of Janesville and townships of Harmony, Janesville, LaPrairie, and Rock with paramedic intercept services available to surrounding areas. The Janesville Fire Department has over 90 personnel who are proud members of IAFF Local 580 and the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin (PFFW).

01/16/2026

🚨🚨🚨 Retirement Announcement 🚨🚨🚨

Janesville Local 580 would like your help in congratulating Janesville Fire Department Deputy Chief John McManus on his retirement today!

Deputy Chief McManus began his career with the Janesville Fire Department on August 12th, 1996. Throughout his career, he served as a Firefighter, Paramedic, Driver/Operator Engine Paramedic, Lieutenant, Captain, D/C of Support and D/C of Operations. D/C McManus was heavily involved throughout his career and was a member of the Dive Rescue Team, Swiftwater Rescue Team, Technical Rescue Team, Hazardous Materials Team. He was also the guru for all communications, software, radios, etc for the Fire Dept. He assisted with the ambulance committee for rigs 9504 – 9517 and was a member of the New Station 1 build (2016). He was also a Fire Explorer Post 555 Advisor.

During his career, D/C McManus had many achievements including Paramedic of the Year (2004), Firefighter of the Year (2011) and City of Janesville Mighty Oak Recipient (2014).

When D/C McManus is not at the firehouse, he is an active member with Wisconsin Task Force 1. Wisconsin Task Force 1 has benefited the JFD and COJ so much. From creating the basis of our local tech rescue capability to providing the base for our incident planning and our responses to planned events and disasters within the city. While D/C McManus was with WI-TF1, he was able to explore a larger communications world, deploy to the Diddion Mill explosion, be part of restarting the task force in 2022, and deploy to Texas as a Task Force Leader to the 2025 Texas flooding. D/C McManus is also the President of Rock County Fire Officers Association.

If D/C McManus is not working, you can find him out mountain biking, telemark skiing, motorcycling, goofing off with his John Deere or traveling with family. D/C McManus has been married to his wife, Gayle, since 2001 and they have one daughter, Fiona together.

His plans for retirement include teaching, consulting, clearing his backlog of “four-dayer” projects and spending lots of time with his family.

In his final interview he left us with this – “Being a member of Local 580 has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. I am eternally grateful to the firefighters who came before me, who set us up to have a great career with an opportunity to have a second full life after this one. I am also grateful to have met many of those firefighters through my childhood and early career. “

Thank you Deputy Chief McManus for helping shape the Janesville Fire Department into what it is today. We wish you a much deserved retirement!

12/24/2025

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from L580!

12/20/2025

Janesville Firefighter Charities is proud to present our annual donation to the Rock County Cancer Coalition, made possible through the sale of our Breast Cancer Awareness and Hispanic Heritage Month t-shirts ❤️

Thanks to the incredible support from our community, these efforts help fund education, prevention, and support services for those impacted by cancer right here in Rock County. We are grateful to everyone who purchased a shirt and helped turn awareness into action.

Together, we continue to make a difference. 🚒

12/16/2025

Information regarding last night's residential fire. 👇

12/13/2025

We have some very sad news. Firefighter Paramedic, Daria Deibele, who is a fellow Local 580 member from Whitewater Fire & EMS, has passed away.

Please read the information below from Whitewater Fire. Our hearts go out to her immediate family, friends, and Whitewater Fire family. We ask that you keep all of them in your thoughts as they navigate through this horrible loss.

12/10/2025

Today, Janesville Firefighters Charities had the honor of presenting our annual donation to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA)—all thanks to YOU and your incredible support during our Fill the Boot campaign!

Every year, our community comes together to help strengthen families living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related neuromuscular diseases. Your generosity keeps vital research moving forward, funds life-changing programs, and helps kids attend MDA Summer Camp.

We couldn’t do any of this without you—our neighbors, families, friends, and everyone who dropped a dollar (or more!) into a boot. Thank you for standing with us and helping make a difference in the lives of so many.

From all of us at Janesville Firefighters Charities, thank you for keeping the Fill the Boot spirit alive! 👢❤️

12/07/2025

Another Movember in the books! 💈🔥
Our brothers came together once again to grow the ‘stache, spark conversations, and raise awareness for men’s health. Proud of the whiskers, proud of the cause, and proud of this crew.

12/05/2025

Retirement Post 🚨🚨🚨

After a remarkable career that began in 1999, Richard Lohmar is officially retiring from his role as a Paramedic/Firefighter—a position he has proudly and passionately held for his entire 26 years of service.

Throughout his career, Richard made an incredible impact on the department and community. He served on numerous specialized teams, including Dive Team, Tech Rescue, Hazmat, TEMS, Swift Water Rescue, Car Seat Program, and has been a dedicated member of the Wisconsin State Task Force since its inception. He has also served as a preceptor, contributed to the Peer Support Group, and participated on both the EMS Committee and the Ambulance Committee.

In 2016, Richard was honored as Paramedic of the Year, a reflection of his professionalism, skill, and deep commitment to the people he served.

Before joining the department full-time, Richard began his service with the Township of Delavan, and for more than a decade he also shared his passion for athletics by coaching wrestling, shaping young athletes both on and off the mat.

Beyond his career, Richard has always held family at the center of his life. He has been married to his beautiful wife, Kristi, since 2002, and together they’ve raised four wonderful children — Jacob, Joseph, Kara, and Thomas — who have been his greatest pride and constant support throughout his career.
In retirement, Richard looks forward to spending more time outdoors, welding, woodworking, and finally finishing all the projects he’s started over the years. And in the future, he and Kristi plan to take on the adventure of a lifetime by completing the Great Loop together.

Richard often said this was the best job in the world, and he considers it an honor to have served alongside his second family. His dedication, leadership, and heart will be remembered for years to come.

Please join us in congratulating Richard Lohmar on an extraordinary career and wishing him the very best in his next chapter. 🚒

12/04/2025

Retirement Post 🚨🚨🚨

Janesville Firefighters Local 580 is proud to celebrate the retirement of Driver Jennifer Bottcher, who has served our community with dedication, skill, and heart since April 30, 2001.

Over her 24 years with JFD, Jennifer made a lasting impact in every role she embraced. She served as a Driver and contributed her talents to several specialized teams, including Hazmat, Technical Rescue, and as a Certified Car Seat Technician, helping ensure the safety of countless families in our community.

Outside the station, Jennifer has always been passionate about fitness and wellness. For the past 12 years, she has coached CrossFit and turned her love of nutrition into an online coaching business, Fire Up Nutrition, where she continues to inspire others to live healthier lives.

Jennifer’s family has been a constant source of support throughout her career. She shares her life with her husband Brian, 20-year-old twin bonus kids Brooke and Brock, her parents Mary and Rick, and her sister Cindy.

As she steps into retirement, Jennifer is looking forward to new adventures. She, Brian, and their dog Otis are excited to hit the open road—traveling the country for weeks at a time in their newly named camper van, Doug.

Please join us in thanking Jennifer for her years of service, commitment, and friendship. We wish her the very best as she begins this next chapter. Congratulations on your retirement, Jennifer! 🚒🧯

12/03/2025

Janesville Firefighter Charities recently made a donation to Pulse Point.

Pulse Point provides pre-alert notification to nearby Pulse Point application users. The application, which will be available to all communities and residents of Rock County, serves as a tool for our collective safety. It notifies the application user of the exact location of the sudden cardiac arrest and the nearest Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
With the Pulse Point pre-alert notification application, bystanders would be able to administer CPR before the arrival of Emergency Services. Bystander CPR increases the chance of survival of sudden cardiac arrest by double or triple the survival rate.

Together, we’re building a safer, stronger community. ❤️🚑

12/02/2025

Please help us welcome another little one to the local!!

Congratulations to Firefighter/Paramedic Tanner and his wife, Riley on welcoming Caden Thomas into the world on June 18th! 🍼

11/30/2025

❄️ Winter Weather Safety Reminder ❄️

As the snow starts to pile up, we want to remind everyone to stay safe while shoveling and navigating snowy or icy conditions.

Shoveling heavy, wet snow can be strenuous on the heart, especially for individuals with a history of heart disease, high blood pressure, or those who aren’t regularly active. Cold temperatures can also increase heart rate and blood pressure, raising the risk of cardiac events.
👉 Take breaks, push—don’t lift—when possible, and listen to your body.
👉 If you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, or dizziness, stop immediately and call 911.

Icy driveways, sidewalks, and steps can lead to serious injuries like fractures, head injuries, and sprains.
👉 Wear proper footwear with good traction.
👉 Use salt or sand on walkways.
👉 Take slow, careful steps and keep your hands free for balance.

Your safety is our top priority. Let’s all work together to prevent emergencies this winter—take it slow, stay aware, and keep yourself and your loved ones safe. ❄️🚒

Address

303 Milton Avenue
Janesville, WI
53545

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