Meet Firefighter/EMT Zach Chapman

Where are you stationed?

Fire Station 14 (Dairy Drive) on the 'C' shift

What was your career prior to MFD?

Prior to joining MFD, I was in charge of the sales and marketing at Ian’s Pizza here in Madison.

How have your skills and knowledge from past jobs come in handy at the MFD?

Customer service has always been an area that I take a lot of pride in, and those customer service skills are so important for this job. We are asked to serve the entire community. Being able to apply those skills during stressful situations is something that is super helpful and makes the job enjoyable for me.

Looking back at the Recruit Academy, what do you remember the most?

The friendships that were made in the academy were what really stick out to me the most. The bond that our class had for the six months we were together was really something special that I will never forget. The first time I went back to Station 14 (where we had our academy), it felt so different because I wasn’t with my classmates from Class 61. We shared plenty of laughs together, and I would do anything for any of them!

What do you do when you're not working at MFD?

In my spare time, I like to spend time with my wife and three dogs outside. We love taking our little travel trailer and exploring the state parks here in Wisconsin and in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I love taking time to disconnect from the real world and enjoy the beautiful scenery we have here in the area. When it’s time to put the camper away, I try to get out and ice fish on the local lakes here in Madison. I participate in softball, volleyball, and ice hockey. I also love watching the Badgers, Packers, and Bucks!