For many emergency medical calls on Madison’s south side, firefighter and paramedic Darius Green is on the scene. From car wrecks to heart attacks, Green has the training and experience to give the care and support needed to save lives in critical moments.
Green joined the Madison Fire Department seven years ago after earning his associate’s degree in emergency medical services and fire protection from Madison College.
Finding a path to emergency services
While in school, he worked as a manager at an eyeglasses store and as a part-time emergency technician at a local hospital. He also volunteered with the DeForest Windsor Fire & EMS to learn the ropes.
“I took the medical route first and then did the firefighting stuff shortly after,” he explained.
Green has found firefighting and emergency medical work to be a worthy and interesting career so far, one that began as an idea a friend first planted years earlier during a conversation at the gym. He kept the suggestion in the back of his mind for several years before eventually putting a plan into motion.
During a ride along with the Madison Police Department, Green noticed how officers worked alongside members of the fire department.
“It motivated me to pursue that type of work,” he recalled.
Green is proud to serve the Madison community, where he has lived since a young boy growing up on the north side. That local connection is part of what makes emergency services meaningful to him, but the work also appeals because it offers something dynamic and different every day.
“My previous job in a business setting felt mundane. That pushed me to keep learning, to keep training, to stay engaged,” he said.
Those early experiences helped confirm his direction. Riding in an ambulance while volunteering gave him fire-service experience, and working at the hospital let him observe doctors and nurses doing assessments. Together, those experiences inspired him to continue his education and extensive training to become a paramedic, which he completed in 2022.
“Becoming a paramedic was one of my main goals,” he said.
As a kid, he knew he wanted to do something in the medical field, but he also did not want to spend his days inside a building. In his job now, he gets both wishes: a medical job that varies each day and takes him to locations throughout the city.
On the job at the station
Green works at Station 6 on Fish Hatchery Road, where medical calls make up much of his work with the fire department.
He enjoys helping patients and providing healthcare options. He is compassionate in his approach and helps people find the best course of action.
“Some people aren’t exactly savvy with the healthcare system, so their best course of action might be to call 911, and we are there to help them solve the problem and provide options, so they get the care they need,” he said.
Green has found a good fit with the Madison Fire Department and notes that the best part of his job is the people he works with each day.
“We are a tight-knit group,” he said. “There is time to hang out at the station together, and when it’s time for a call, we lock into the work and get the job done as a team.”
Shifts typically run from 7 a.m. one day to 7 a.m. the next day. Some days are so busy that the team knows they will not sleep until they go home, while others shifts include down time between calls.
It’s rewarding to help people—and it’s the reason Green enjoys his work. But the biggest challenge is not being able to help everybody.
“You have those calls that kind of stick with you, the heartbreakers, especially when children are involved. Those are the worst part of the job,” he said.
Even with those difficult moments, Green still sees the work as worth doing, and he wants others to see that possibility, too.
Opening doors to others
Green promotes the profession as an instructor for EMT and firefighting classes at Madison College, and he tries to find people in the community who are interested or might be a good fit.
“When I’m at the gym, if I’m talking to somebody who looks like they are in good shape, I’ll ask them if they’re interested in joining the fire department,” he said.
He is also a co-leader, with colleague Tasha Kirch, of Sable Flames, an organization of the Madison Fire Department’s African American firefighters. Its mission is to provide support, knowledge and leadership to members of its organization and to others in the fire service. The group emphasizes hiring, recruitment, promotion and retention of African Americans and other persons of color.
“We provide scholarships and help with people going through the hiring process, answering questions and giving support,” said Green.
Green appreciates his role with the Madison Fire Department, and with just a few years as a paramedic, he knows there’s more to learn, and he’s focused on that for now.
To decompress after demanding days, Green likes to read and meditate, and he enjoys running and weightlifting. His favorite place to be is at home with his wife and kids.
“When I’m with them, I want to be present and give them my full attention,” he said.
Their love and companionship recharge him for the next shift.
Green knew what he was signing up for when he joined the department, and he is good with his decision.
When the Madison Fire Department shows up, its members are ready to help the community in any way they can. Green makes sure he’s trained and able to make a difference.
“When somebody calls 911, they need help, and I’m here to give them that help,” he said. “I’m in this role for a reason, and I cherish it.”
