Fire departments seek volunteers

Engineer EMT-A Britian Whitley of Selkirk Fire, Rescue and EMS with the Sandpoint station’s volunteer fire truck. —Photo by LYNNE HALEY

-- Photo by LYNNE HALEY Volunteers at Selkirk Fire, Rescue and EMT will have the chance to get their hands on this big red machine.

by Lynne Haley Staff Writer
| June 24, 2016 1:00 AM

-- Photo by LYNNE HALEY Volunteers at Selkirk Fire, Rescue and EMT will have the chance to get their hands on this big red machine.

SANDPOINT — A rainy month of June is no guarantee that the threat of wildfires will remain at bay, and area fire departments are actively seeking volunteers to join their emergency response crews before the fire season gets underway.

"Volunteerism across the U.S. is drastically reduced," said Selkirk Fire, Rescue and EMS chief Ron Stocking. "We really rely on volunteers to help us respond to major emergencies."

From May to October 2015, wildfires claimed approximately 750,000 acres of land in the state, according to information from the Idaho Department of Lands. This represents more than five times the average acreage burned over the past 20 years in Idaho.

While Stocking said that the amount of precipitation this month has lessened the immediate fire danger, he is hesitant to say the coast is clear.

“It won’t take more than a week of high temperatures for the grass to dry out," he said. "We need rain every 10 days or so to keep wildfire danger low."

Fire departments throughout the area need volunteers regardless of fire danger, he said.

"We need as many as we can get," said the chief. "We really rely on volunteers to help us respond to major emergencies. We go to just about every 911 call that comes in."

The first step for interested individuals is to fill out a volunteer form online or at their nearest fire station. Applicants must be over 18 and physically able to perform the strenuous activities associated with firefighting. They must study the training materials provided by the department independently, and they must past a rudimentary fitness test, Stocking said. Departments typically provide gear to volunteers free of charge.

Volunteers can work as little or as much as they are able. The Selkirk department offers those who spend a minimum of 20 hours per month training and/or on duty a stipend to offset their costs, said the chief. Other regional departments have their own guidelines.

"Being a volunteer emergency responder is a rewarding experience and an extraordinary way to serve your community. It takes dedication, sacrifice, leadership, and mental/physical stamina. Almost one million Idaho residents live in an area supported by volunteer or combination fire departments. To keep these residents safe, it's critical that individuals continue volunteering for local emergency response departments," according to the Selkirk Fire department volunteer page.

Information: 263-3502, http://www.sandpointfire.com/volunteer.asp.