Rural Kansas towns face elevated fire risk, struggles to find volunteer firefighters

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Rural cities throughout Kansas face continued drought situations compounded by a priority with an absence of obtainable firefighters.

The small neighborhood of Paradise has seen firsthand how unhealthy an emergency fireplace state of affairs can get and the way priceless volunteer firefighters are. Final December, a fireplace devastated the city. With help from volunteers from outdoors the neighborhood, they have been capable of put it out.

“The help that got here that day and the times and weeks following was phenomenal,” mentioned Volunteer firefighter Todd Schneider. “I couldn’t consider the quantity of vehicles that confirmed as much as save us, principally.”

Now, Paradise is amongst communities needing extra of its personal volunteers.

“There’s not lots of people in our space, and discovering those that wish to try this, it’s robust to do,” Schneider mentioned.

Some that may assist don’t have the time to dedicate to turning into a volunteer firefighter.

“After I ask folks in the event that they’d take into account (volunteering) for the hearth division, I get, ‘we’re too busy,’ you already know, excuses like that,” Russell and Ellsworth County Emergency Administration Director Keith Haberer mentioned.

The dearth of volunteers makes it troublesome for fireplace departments to at all times be staffed.

“Most of our guys on this space are farming or are ranchers, and right this moment I talked to the hearth chief from Paradise right here and he’s out on the swather,” Haberer mentioned.

He mentioned volunteering is “all about neighborhood service.”

“In the event you actually wish to be concerned in your neighborhood, you’d cease and be a volunteer and assist out,” Haberer mentioned.

He mentioned stepping as much as be a volunteer firefighter begins with the straightforward step of contacting your native fireplace division.

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