Doug McElmury was just 18 when he found himself unexpectedly involved in rescuing a girl who had plummeted 60 feet off the cliffs at Devil's Lake State Park in Baraboo. An enthusiastic rock climber, he and a buddy were scaling the rocks that day when the frantic mother of the girl mistook them for the official rescue team.

"We managed to reach the girl, and the rangers showed up, but they didn't have the training for rope rescue," recalled McElmury, who has served as the village fire chief for the past five years. It was this incident, where the girl had slipped during a scouting trip and landed on a ledge 40 feet down before falling another 20 feet, that sparked his lifelong commitment to community service.

Working alongside authorities, McElmury and his friend helped bring the injured girl to safety. Following the rescue, he discussed potential career paths with the EMTs. Their advice led him to join his local fire department. In 1981, he began his journey as a volunteer firefighter at the Wheatland department, dedicating nine years to the role. During that time, he also worked part-time with an ambulance service in Lake Geneva and as a paid-on-call firefighter there.

Simultaneously, Doug leveraged his expertise in ropes and rescue techniques to train local firefighters. His dedication caught the attention of Pleasant Prairie Fire Chief Paul Guilbert, who recommended he apply for a position at their department. Over the years, McElmury climbed the ranks—starting as a volunteer, becoming a training officer, then a captain, and eventually an assistant chief.

In 2011, when Guilbert stepped down, McElmury took over as interim chief and ultimately became the department's leader. Under his leadership, the department expanded significantly. In 2015, Station 1 opened on Springbrook Road, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities like larger apparatus bays, a Zodiac boat, an equipment trailer, and an ATV. The station also introduced semi-private sleeping quarters for the firefighters.

This year, McElmury oversaw the acquisition of a brand-new $1.1 million ladder truck, replacing one that had been in service almost as long as he’d been with the department. He expressed gratitude for the entire team, from the firefighters to the support staff and the village administration, for ensuring smooth operations despite numerous challenges.

As he retires after 28 years of service, McElmury plans to continue sharing his passion for rope rescue by working part-time as a trainer for a California-based company specializing in the type of ropes he once used to save lives. "I'll get to travel across the country teaching rope rescue," he said enthusiastically. "It's what I love doing."

Thanks, Dan.

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