Answering the Call with Fire Chief Mike Goldstone

About this episode

Debra Fitzgerald interviews Fire Chief Mike Goldstone about the challenges and rewards of being a volunteer firefighter in Door County.

Door County relies on 11 volunteer fire departments and dedicated emergency medical responders to answer the call in our scariest moments. Debra Fitzgerald talks to one of them – Sister Bay Liberty Grove Fire Chief Mike Goldstone – about the challenges and rewards that come with the job as a volunteer firefighter in rural Wisconsin. They discuss his journey to Sister Bay, the training required for our local responders, and the emotional job he had in stepping into the shoes of his friend and former chief, the late Chris Hecht. The interview is part of the 2026 Sustainability Issue of the Peninsula Pulse that dived into the role of emergency responders in supporting a sustainable community.

People in this episode

Host: Debra Fitzgerald

Guest: Mike Goldstone

Topics covered

• volunteer firefighting
• emergency response
• community sustainability
• rural challenges
• personal journey

Keywords

• volunteer fire department
• emergency medical responders
• Sister Bay
• Chris Hecht
• rural Wisconsin
• firefighter training
• community support

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Sister Bay Liberty Grove Fire Department

Places: Door County, Wisconsin

More episodes of Door County Pulse Podcast

• The Life and Legacy of Fred Alley, with Northern Sky's Jeff Herbst · June 10, 2026 · 43 min
• Dave Eliot on 30 Years of the Pulse · June 7, 2026 · 37 min
• Sturgeon Bay Athletic Fields Plan with Dan Tjernagel and Josh VanLieshout · June 5, 2026 · 35 min
• Advancing Our Art Profile With Shane McAdams of the Door County Contemporary Art Fair · June 3, 2026 · 21 min
• Door Diving into the Bar and Restaurants Scene with Mike Bacsi · May 29, 2026 · 36 min
• The Journey Home, With Author Theresa Evans · May 27, 2026 · 50 min