WPS Foundation unveils lifesaving equipment at Peshtigo Fire Department

Pictured left to right: Matt Cullen, WPS; Leah Van Zile, WPS; Charles Gardon, City of Peshtigo Fire Department fire chief; Grace Koeffler, City of Peshtigo Fire Department EMR; Steve Anderson, City of Peshtigo Fire Department lieutenant; and Sam Nelson, City of Peshtigo Fire Department EMR.

WPS photo

Funding from the Wisconsin Public Service Foundation’s 2026 Rewarding Responders Grant program was used to purchase thermal imaging cameras.

WPS photo

Posted Wednesday, October 7, 2026 4:00 pm

FOR THE PESHTIGO TIMES

PESHTIGO – The Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) Foundation is giving local first responders new tools to use when every second counts in keeping people safe.

As part of its 2026 Rewarding Responders Grant program, WPS Foundation representatives visited the Peshtigo Fire Department to unveil new lifesaving equipment on Thursday, Oct. 1.

The Peshtigo Fire Department is one of this year’s grant recipients. The department used its grant to purchase new thermal imaging cameras. The thermal imaging cameras will help firefighters quickly locate people in poor visibility conditions and identify smoldering fire hazards that are hidden from normal view.

The WPS Foundation offers its Rewarding Responders Grant program to help local police, fire and emergency medical services (EMS) agencies improve public safety throughout northeast and northcentral Wisconsin. The foundation is awarding a total of $75,000 through this year’s grants to help first responders across the region receive lifesaving equipment or important training for their members.

The Rewarding Responders Grant program began in 2014. Since then, the WPS Foundation has donated more than $750,000 to support first responders and public safety efforts in the communities it serves.