The Lisbon Fire Department history is short compared to most other fire departments in the Waukesha County area.  Established through a town board annual meeting on March 24^th, 1982, the vote of the citizens was resounding for the formation of Lisbon’s own department.  Prior to 1982, the town contracted for its fire and EMS needs from the Village of Sussex.  At the time of contract renewal, the two communities were growing apart from the same needs for fire service, which made negotiations difficult.  The rising costs of buying protection made it feasible to create a department, tailor made to Lisbon’s individual criteria.  With support from the town chairman, Richard Jung, and two more board members, Gus Sandroni and Bill Grigg, they moved to present plans for the formation of a department.  They enlisted the help of Joseph Farley who was an acquaintance of Gus through business.  Joe was a firefighter for the Town of Delafield and Oconomowoc.  At the young age of 25, Farley drafted a proposal with the information attained from the I.S.O. (a fire department grading organization).  The plan detailed equipment and water deliveries needed to create a highly rated department for the town.  After the annual meeting won approval, Farley assembled a committee to build and operate the project.  The five-man team was recruited from Lisbon citizens and interested people who also had fire backgrounds.  These men were, Dave Parker, Roy Swantes, Herb Scherman, Ray Radke and Doug Brahm.  This group worked with Farley and the Town Board to purchase equipment, trucks and supplies.  With Bill Grigg watching the $621,000 fiscal budget, Joe directed the team to formulate the required combination of apparatus and equipment to obtain a favorable rating.  This undertaking was huge considering they only had one year to complete.

The call for residents to volunteer to become firefighters and emergency medical technicians went out and the response was very positive.  Forty civic-minded men and women did apply and committed to the accelerated training needed by the end of 1982.  There fitted with turn out gear then enrolled in firefighting and EMT school.  The members also met every Monday night and Saturday mornings for in house trainings and working on the equipment. The time spent by the committee and the membership was monumental and a true sacrifice for their community.  The first major purchase was a used fire engine from the Grafton Fire Department for $17,000; this purchase was made to establish immediate training.  Then two new engines were ordered from Pierce Manufacturing Co.  These twin fire engines, equipped with 1250 gallon per minute pumps and 1500 gallons of water in the booster tank were custom designed for rural firefighting with out the aid of hydrants.  These engines are still in service today, they are known as 2663 and 2665.  A new ambulance was delivered from Pierce in time for the 1983 target date.  Meanwhile, three tankers were designed using used chassis’ and custom-built tanks; Joe Farley oversaw this project.  The combined water amount was 9,750 gallons.  Because of the water capacity these tankers can carry, more than any other department in the area, the phrase “water on wheels’ was coined, as is worn proudly on the patches of the firefighters. 

The station to house the apparatus was a previously constructed building used by the Lisbon Highway Department.  Other purchases included hose, breathing apparatus, water appliances, rescue equipment, radios, Hurst tool, and a under ground 40,000 gallon tank.

The 1982 building year was extremely intense with several political controversies from opponents of the fire department.  Four out of the five original committee members dropped off for personal reasons.  Later in the year, a contract was signed with Waukesha County Sheriff’s dispatch to provide us with dispatching services.  With the radio being donated by the Lisbon Fire Department, County Fire dispatch was created.  The department prepared themselves for activation on January 1, 1983.  To come in under budget, the forty plus members agreed to accept no pay for 1982 through 1983.  On December 31, 1982 at midnight, the Lisbon Fire Department was activated.  Shortly thereafter the first call came in, a vehicle accident, three victims, one fatal, one critical and one with minor injuries and history was changed.  Joe Farley was named Chief along with Doug Brahm as Assistant Chief.  The first year saw a call volume of 220; though these were mainly rescue, the department saw its fair share of car accidents and structure fires.

By 1996, the call volume had increased to over 300.  The Town Board along with the department felt it was time to hire the department’s first full-time employee.  Troy Boesel was hired in June of 1996 and manned the firehouse during the weekdays.  Troy’s duties were, responding on calls, vehicle maintenance, and fire inspections.  A second person was hired, Scott Dallesasse, in March 1997.  Troy left to go to the Wauwatosa Fire Department in 1998, and was replaced by Dan Gabel in August of that year.  Through the years the roster has changed many times with over 120 men and women serving their community.  There are still six charter members active on the department.  They are, Doug Brahm, Bob Schiellack, Dave Mason, Phil Ferber, Jay Scheillack and Randy Wittig.  In 1997 Joe Farley resigned.  Doug Brahm became the Chief, along with Bob Scheillack as his assistant.

 In 1999 the department had answered 419 calls.  Since its inception, the Lisbon Fire Department has handled over 4,697 alarms.  Though the stories of the calls are interesting, the most moving historical fact about the department is the membership.  The dedication and unselfish determination to make Lisbon and its people safe.  There are numerous citizens and visitors that have received our services.  The future will see growth, and more bad situations made better because The Lisbon Fire Department was created.