SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO-AM) Rural Fire Departments and ambulance services are looking for your help. With an aging group of volunteers, shifting family priorities and increased demand for training and certifications, finding volunteers is a big problem.
Lincoln County Emergency Manager and former volunteer Fire Chief Harold Timmerman says there's a real need for firefighter and emergency medical technicians. One challenge is the increased training demands and certification requirements involved. "With people having thier kids involved with everything that comes along from the time they can walk, you know they don't have alot of time for those things...so we're seeing that as an issue".
Basic Emergency Medical Technician training can last over five months with classes two nights a week. Volunteer Firefighter training varies, with most candidates completing a 110 hour course.
Volunteers make up almost 70 percent firefighters nationally.
Here are links to several departments in the Minnehaha and Lincoln County, South Dakota, Rock County, Minnesota and Lyon County, Iowa areas:
http://www.countyoffice.org/sd-lincoln-county-fire-departments/
http://minnehahacountyfire.org/
http://www.firedepartment.net/directory/minnesota/rock-county
