Fire District Needs Volunteer Firefighters

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Story Published: Nov 22, 2009 at 7:40 PM PDT

By Sade Malloy

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YAKIMA COUNTY -- Fighting fires with a shrinking number of volunteers. But that was then, this weekend gives Yakima County's Fire District No. 5 hope for a return to previous staffing levels.

Yakima County's Fire District No. 5 is bulking up their man power and putting their eight new volunteer firefighters to work. This weekend the new group of recruits had a training session with hose work and building entry.

"Protecting over 700 sq. Miles we need all the bodies we can get. We're a busy department with a lot of things going on having the volunteers is what keeps us going," says Captain Dave Martin, Fire District No. 5.

The volunteers do more than keep the district going. they make up the majority of the department. Of the nearly 200 firefighters only 13 do this full time.

"Not everyone can make it to the call so it really helps if you have someone in the afternoon or in the morning," says Greg Klutts, volunteer firefighter.

Fire officials say volunteer numbers have been down over the past few years, at one point they had less than 180 people in the district. But the economy is helping bring that number back up. District 5 pays their volunteers by the hour.

"They start at minimum wage and depending on their status work their way upwards of $12," says Capt. Martin.

Despite the paycheck the firefighters remain volunteers because they carry pagers and only go to fires when they're available.

Action News asks,"Is it harder than what you thought?"
"No with the support that I have from the volunteers and the fire department it's been a really good experience," says Juany Soliz, volunteer firefighter.

A good experience and good time to join the team. Every minute counts when fighting fires, the more people the better.

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