Alpena County fire departments need more people to step up

ALPENA -- The need for firefighters for small, volunteer-based fire departments is growing, and township fire chiefs in Alpena County and the Alpena Fire Department are doing their best to increase staff.

Alpena Fire Chief Rob Edmonds, who works closely with township departments, said a person can become a volunteer firefighter with some basic training. Then, if they want, they can further their medical training to become an emergency medical technician or paramedic and possibly make emergency first response a career.

Edmonds said lacking a full staff of volunteer firefighters, many of whom are paid per call, means departments have to help one another when an emergency happens.

That leaves gaps in coverage in one or both of the municipalities.

"I think pretty much every volunteer department in Alpena County is short-staffed, and they basically have to do joint operations and there is more mutual aid that is happening now," Edmonds said. "It impacts the overall system. It is rare that we have multiple calls in the townships at the same time, but there is a risk that, while your resources are at department A, and an emergency happens at department B, resources are split. It is a concern for the local chiefs."

Edmonds said several factors contribute to the current shortage of volunteer firefighters. He said many people are busy with jobs and families and simply don't want to commit the time needed for the training and emergency calls. Also, much of the volunteer firefighting force is older, and retirements have lowered the number of staff.

"People just don't volunteer as they used to," he said. "That is the same with many of the groups and organizations. People just aren't volunteering, anymore, and many of the volunteers they do have are getting older."

To recruit more help, Edmonds said fire departments often host open houses at which people can tour the fire house, check out equipment, and learn more about firefighting and medical first response jobs. He said the department in Alpena has a ridealong program through which members of the public can shadow firefighters to help them decide if emergency first response is for them.

"It helps them decide if it's something they want to dabble into and maybe make a career move," Edmonds said. "That provides them a chance to see what a day in the life of a firefighter looks like."

The staffing shortage isn't unique to fire departments in Alpena County. Edmonds said it is an issue around the nation. In Michigan alone, there is a shortage of more than 1,000 firefighters, he said.

Another reason it is important to have full rosters of volunteer firefighters is because it can help larger departments replenish staff when other firefighters move on or retire. Edmonds said volunteer firefighters who continue their education and become an EMT or paramedic are often hired in Alpena, or other municipalities.

"This is a problem everywhere," he said.

Edmonds said people who are interested in becoming a volunteer or paid-on-call firefighter can contact their local fire chief for more information.

CONTACT LOCAL FIRE CHIEFS

Alpena: Rob Edmonds, 989-354-1841

Alpena Township: Mark Hansen, 989-356-0297

Green Township: Tim Wade, 989-255-3373

Hubbard Lake: Mike Eller, 989-657-5791

Long Rapids Township: Darin Himes, 989-464-4852

Maple Ridge Township: Jim Price, 989-884-2893

Sanborn Township: Dale Hart, 989-657-5515

Wilson Township: Gil LaCross, 989-464-2457