Press Release: 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

State of Wisconsin sent this bulletin at 05/01/2026 05:00 AM CDT
Office of Governor Tony Evers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 1, 2026
Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov 
 
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 — Gov. Tony Evers signed Executive Order #290 ordering the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Sun., May 3, 2026, as a mark of respect for the state’s firefighters who have given their lives in the line of duty in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. Gov. Evers also proclaimed May 2-3, 2026, as National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend.

“Our firefighters run toward danger, putting their health, safety, and life at risk to serve our neighbors during what is often their darkest hour of need. For that, we owe them an incredible debt of gratitude,” said Gov. Evers. “On behalf of the grateful people of Wisconsin, we acknowledge and thank our firefighters and their families for their service and sacrifices, and we pay tribute to all those who have lost their lives in the line of duty in service and the loved ones who miss and mourn them every day. Their sacrifices will never be forgotten.”

Additionally, on Sat., Sept. 26, 2026, the Wisconsin Fire & EMS Memorial in Wisconsin Rapids will hold the Final Alarm Ceremony honoring the memory of members of Wisconsin’s fire services who have given their lives in the line of duty. Executive Order #290 also orders the flags to be flown at half-staff on Sat., Sept. 26, 2026, in honor of that occasion.

Finally, Wisconsin state law, Wis. Stat. 995.225(1), designates the week of October 9th as Fire Prevention Week and the Saturday at the end of Fire Prevention Week as Wisconsin Firefighters Memorial Day annually. To that end, Executive Order #290 also orders the flags be lowered on Sat., Oct. 10, 2026, in honor of Wisconsin Firefighters Memorial Day during Fire Prevention Week.

Executive Order #290 will be in effect from sunrise to sunset on Sun., May 3, 2026, Sat., Sept. 26, 2026, and Sat., Oct. 10, 2026. 
 
An online version of this release is available here.
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