Office of Governor Tony Evers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 26, 2025
Contact: [email protected] 
 
Gov. Evers Orders Flags to be Flown at Half-Staff in Honor of Wisconsin Firefighters Who Have Given Their Lives in the Line of Duty 
 
MADISON — As previously announced, on Sat., Sept. 27, 2025, and Sat., Oct. 11, 2025, the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin will be flown at half-staff coinciding with the Final Alarm Ceremony and Silent Procession at the Wisconsin Fire & EMS Memorial Park in Wisconsin Rapids, which is hosted by the Wisconsin Fire & EMS Memorial.

In May, Gov. Evers signed Executive Order #258 ordering the flags to be flown at half-staff on Sun., May 4, 2025, in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service during National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend. Executive Order #258 also ordered the flags to be flown at half-staff on Sat., Sept. 27, 2025, in recognition of the Final Alarm Ceremony, and again on Sat., Oct. 11, 2025, in observance of Wisconsin Firefighters Memorial Day during Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 5 through Oct. 11, 2025, as established by state statute.

“We owe firefighters and all of our state’s dedicated first responders an incredible debt of gratitude, as every day they go to work they put their own health, lives, and safety at risk to serve others in their darkest hours,” said Gov. Evers. “Throughout the year, we lower the flags in honor of those who have tragically lost their lives in the line of duty, not only as a sign of respect and appreciation for their commendable commitment to service, but as a measure of thanks to the families, loved ones, and colleagues they left behind and that their hero’s sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

Previously, the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend had been held in October, but beginning in 2023, the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation moved the observance from October to May. However, in Wisconsin, Wis. Stat. 995.225(1) still designates each week annually during which October 9 falls as Fire Prevention Week and designates the Saturday at the end of Fire Prevention Week as Wisconsin Firefighters Memorial Day.

Executive Order #258 subsequently orders the flags to be flown at half-staff on Sat., Sept. 27, 2025, in recognition of the Final Alarm Ceremony, and on Sat., Oct. 11, 2025, in honor of Fire Prevention Week, which features observances, ceremonies, exercises, and activities related to fire safety education, and culminates with the observance of Wisconsin Firefighters Memorial Day in recognition of the firefighters of this state who made the ultimate sacrifice in the performance of their duties over the course of the year. A copy of the governor’s forthcoming 2025 Fire Prevention Week proclamation is available here. A copy of the governor’s forthcoming Wisconsin Firefighters Memorial Day proclamation is available here.

Executive Order #258 will be in effect from sunrise to sunset on Sat., Sept. 27, 2025, and Sat., Oct. 11, 2025, and is available here. 
 
An online version of this release is available here.
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