ML Fire Department looking for more volunteers

Volunteer numbers are down a little bit and the Medical Lake Fire Department is working to bolster its recruitment efforts.

"We've been talking to folks and getting stuff out there on social media and job websites," Fire Chief Jason Mayfield said.

Mayfield explained that numbers at Medical Lake, which is an all-volunteer agency, "kind of ebb and flowed a little bit" over the years. Some reasons why volunteers leave Medical Lake are because of conflicts with their work schedule, or "want to move on to other things." In the last couple of years, some have left because they found full-time firefighting jobs.

"I think it's a compliment to what we're doing here," Mayfield said. "We're investing in the right people (volunteers) who come in with good attitudes and work ethic. The downside is we have lower numbers."

Part of the department's recruitment efforts include speaking with students enrolled in Spokane Community College's Fire Science Program. Mayfield said firefighters will talk with people at local events and football games. Some volunteers come with previous firefighting experience from other departments.

"A lot of it is word of mouth," Mayfield said, referring to how the department receives some of its applicants. "We let them know we are a volunteer department and we could use their help. People who want to get into fire service will reach out and get a referral from someone who has served in our department before."

The department opened the applications to people from outside of the city limits a few years ago, which Mayfield said has been "a big help filling out the day shifts." However, he would like to see volunteers who live in the community apply.

"We'd like to see people who could respond to those 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. calls quickly," Mayfield said. "It can be taxing, but it would also be some help to us."

Medical Lake is also down a couple of officer positions, but Mayfield said he wants to put a hold on promoting an officer from within the department.

"Before we promote someone, we want to make sure they have the experience and the right training," Mayfield said. "I'm not someone who wants to fill a position, just to fill it."

Medical Lake, along with the Airway Heights Fire Department and Spokane County Fire District 10 run the West Plains Recruit Structural Academy twice a year. Mayfield said his department's volunteer process is different than Airway Heights and Fire District 10.

Prospective volunteers will come down to the fire station to fill out an application, as well as pass a background check and a physical. If the volunteer's application is approved, they will do some light work around the station, go on some calls with experienced firefighters and work at special events before they attend the academy.

"A lot of people don't realize everything that goes into being a volunteer firefighter," Mayfield said. "You have to get the same training and do the same job that full-time firefighters do. But when most folks do it, they fall in love with it and can't imagine doing anything else."

Mayfield said the department likes its volunteers to attend the academy and Emergency Medical Technician school within their first year.

"The academy is four and a half months long and EMT school is another 13-14 weeks, so that takes up a chunk of their first year," Mayfield said. "We'll have them pull some shifts with experienced firefighters beforehand. When they get to the academy and EMT school they'll have a little bit of a grasp on things."

Mayfield added he has two recruits in this quarter's academy and would like to put on a bigger class in the next one.

Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.