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Last modified: Monday, August 10, 2009 9:59 AM CDT
Wahpeton seeks more firefighters
by Erin C. Hevern • Daily News
In the last year, three Wahpeton firefighters laid their bunker gear to rest and left vacancies on a crew that in 2007 received the highest Insurance Services Officer (ISO) rating in the state of North Dakota.
The Wahpeton Fire Department is now seeking men and women to fill the volunteer positions and join a group of 42.
"We try and maintain 45," said Wahpeton Fire Chief Dale Rubish. "We're looking for 21-30 year olds that have the desire to do it. We would definitely look at other people too."
Currently, the crew consists of 41 men and one woman. Rubish said it's a good mix of characters too — veterans that have been with the department for more than 20 years and newer members that are under the five-year mark.
Bringing the department's head count to 45 gives them a chance at prominent ISO rating — a figure given to departments based on how efficiently they run their fire-protection services.
"When they come in and do the evaluation on us, they'll pick so many fire calls and how many people responded," Rubish said. "That's why it's a vital deal to have enough people responding."
Initial entry on to the department requires a doctor's certification, which states one's ability to perform the physical duties it requires to be a firefighter.
"All the other training we're going to require we offer," Rubish said.
In the first year with the department, trainees are required to take The Essentials of Firefighting I, with the option of taking first aid, CPR, or first responder courses.
"It's things like that that can fall into other areas of your life," Rubish said.
Anyone interested in starting the process in joining the fire department should call Rubish at 640-2654.
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