The REACT Center

10/03/2026

Sending our sincerest condolences to our state colleagues.

It is with profound sadness that the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Wisconsin State Patrol announce the line-of-duty death of Trooper Bradley Ritger at the age of 29.

On September 21, 2026, Trooper Ritger was responding to a traffic pursuit when he deployed a tire deflation device on a bridge deck west of the Dunn County/Eau Claire County line. As he moved to a position of cover, he fell from the bridge onto the roadway below. Despite lifesaving efforts and critical medical care, Trooper Ritger succumbed to his injuries on October 2, 2026.

Trooper Ritger joined the Wisconsin State Patrol as a member of the 67th Recruit Class. He served in the Northwest Region for nearly five years, primarily in the Dunn County area. During his career, he attained certifications as a general law enforcement instructor, mobile field force team member and squad leader, and salvage vehicle inspector. Prior to his service with the Wisconsin State Patrol, Trooper Ritger served with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections for three years.

Trooper Ritger was a dedicated public servant whose strong work ethic and positive presence left a lasting impact on anyone who had the privilege of knowing him. He approached every situation with professionalism, integrity and a genuine commitment to serving others. Whether assisting the public, supporting his fellow troopers, or taking on difficult challenges, he consistently demonstrated compassion and willingness to help wherever needed. His dedication to his family and unwavering commitment to his profession will not be forgotten.

We extend our deepest sympathy to Trooper Ritger’s family, friends, loved ones and all who served alongside him. As the community mourns, the Wisconsin State Patrol has placed a law enforcement memorial vehicle at its Northwest Region Post in Eau Claire where the public is welcome to drop off cards, flowers, or other condolences.

Out of respect for the family, no additional information will be shared at this time. Funeral arrangements are being made by the family. We kindly ask media and the public to respect their privacy and space for grieving.

10/01/2026

We are looking for the next Director of The REACT Center!

This position is responsible for the oversight, promotion, supervision, guidance, and continuing development of all training and exercise programs of the REACT Center.

⏰ Deadline to apply is Oct. 12, 2026.

Learn more about the position and how to apply ➡️https://ow.ly/jxqg50ZTkCU

09/24/2026

08/17/2026

The REACT Center was proud to bring together our Wisconsin military senior leadership, the 911th Technical Rescue Engineer Company (TREC), and The Army Aviation Brigade (TAAB) command leadership from the capital region for an opportunity to connect, collaborate, and look toward the future to maintain our longstanding rescue training partnership.

Interstate training partnerships are critical to building a stronger and more prepared response capability. Emergencies and disasters don’t stop at state lines, and neither should our training relationships. Bringing organizations from different states and regions together allows us to share knowledge, exchange best practices, learn from one another, and develop relationships before they are needed during a real-world response.

Wisconsin Emergency Management
Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs
Volk Field ANGB

07/30/2026

📸 Pic of the Day

Live Find K9 Malachi letting everyone know he successfully found the “missing” person during today’s training at The REACT Center!

All of our USAR K9s use a bark alert to notify their handlers when they locate a victim.

Great work, Malachi and Handler Eric Winger! 🐾

07/09/2026

Congratulations to our Wisconsin Fire Leadership!

https://react.wi.gov/

06/24/2026

Join Our Team! 🚒📋

We are seeking motivated part-time professionals to support Accreditation and Financial Administration with The REACT Center.

This position is ideal for individuals with experience in:
✅ Fire or Emergency Services
✅ Administrative Support
✅ Budgeting and Financial Tracking
✅ Accreditation and Compliance Processes
✅ Training Coordination and Records Management
✅ Strong Organizational and Communication Skills

Flexible hours available. Pay scale will be discussed during the interview process.

https://react.wi.gov/

06/24/2026

Suit up, solve the puzzle, save the day!


City of Madison Fire Department

https://react.wi.gov/

06/07/2026

“Every life saved has a story. Often, the hero behind it remains unwritten.”

Mission complete!

We wrapped with the final practical evaluation of the Medical Team Specialist course provided by Disaster Medical Solutions.

Over 30 doctors and medical professionals from all over the country trained in USAR were able to showcase skills of resilience, teamwork, and leadership. The Medical Team Specialist final exercise places students in a realistic disaster scenario where they must apply everything they’ve learned to provide safe, effective care under pressure. Success is measured not only by clinical performance, but by the ability to work as a cohesive rescue team when lives are on the line.

Thank you to our local fire departments and Fort McCoy for providing volunteers for this event to be live patients for our students.




https://react.wi.gov/

06/05/2026

Day 3 of training for Medical Team Specialist (FEMA) provided by Disaster Medical Solutions focused on the following scenarios:

-48 hours of extended care of a collapsed survivor

-A preschool incident MCI with multiple pediatric survivors

-K9 search team down, with both K9 and handler extricated and treated.

Skill Lab: Limb amputation with cadaveric (human) tissue

https://react.wi.gov/

https://disastermedicalsolutions.com/