WISCONSIN (WTAQ-WLUK) — Fire departments across the state are sounding the alarm. They’re dealing with a shortage of volunteer and full time firefighters; causing some worry.
The Grand Chute Fire Department says the shortage is real.
“In Wisconsin, we definitely have an issue with paramedics and firefighters in short supply,” said Grand Chute Fire Chief Steve Denzien.
He says part of the shortage is a lot of people haven’t been going into firefighting.
“A lot of us are starting to retire, getting older,” said Denzien. “I’m working my 30th year in the fire service currently, so as we start to age out, we’re not having as many influx.”
Denzien says Grand Chute has also received more calls this year than last.
“I think we’re up 500 calls from last year and that trend is just continuing so it’s one of those things that the needs aren’t being met, and we’re continually trying to aspire to do that,” said Denzien.
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According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, cross-trained firefighters make up 38% of EMS first responders in the country.
Denzien says at Grand Chute, firefighters are also paramedics.
“Currently we have 33 full-time and then we have three part-time, and we currently have three part-time positions open,” said Denzien.
He adds the double career is harder to hire than just a regular firefighter.
“Paramedic’s about 1,000 hours certification class, usually takes around a year give or take,” said Denzien. “It’s pretty challenging, so a lot of studying, things like that but it’s really rewarding.”
Only 5.9% of Wisconsin’s fire departments are career based. 79% are volunteer.
Grand Chute is career-based, while the Hobart Fire Department relies strictly on volunteers.
“Nobody really gets paid for it,” said Hobart Fire Chief Jerry Lancelle. “They still have to go through the minimum training and are required to perform everything the same as a full-time firefighter would.”
Lancelle says it’s harder to retain volunteer firefighters.
“We have people leave, a lot of it has to do with them being volunteers,” said Lancelle. “Because if a job takes them away or something else, that makes them leave the village, we lose that firefighter.”
Currently, the Hobart fire department has 28 volunteers.
“We are chartered up to 40. We’ve never had 40, but I would love to have around 30-35 all the time,” said Lancelle.
“We’re starting to recruit at younger ages,” said Denzien. “We’re starting to go into grade schools, middle schools, try to gets kids to hopefully live out their dreams.”
