Golden Valley gets creative to recruit firefighters

Photo courtesy of the city of Golden Valley

Cities are targeting groups other than the usual 18- to 25-year-old men. The ad campaign features a woman and a Vietnam veteran.

Its fire department is using firetrucks as moving billboards to seek volunteers at a time when few are signing up.

By JENNA ROSS, Staff writer

Last update: June 25, 2008 - 1:06 AM

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Golden Valley Fire Chief Mark Kuhnly remembers the days when cities' volunteer fire departments had too many people applying.

He laughs, remembering the waiting lists. "That's just no longer the case."

His department now recruits on-call firefighters any way it can. It holds information fairs, runs ads, partners with Golden Valley businesses.

And now, it's advertising on the sides of its fire trucks.

The extra-large images taking to the street depict:

• Dave Comb, "Vietnam Vet. Car Buff. Firefighter."

• Jenny Toavs, "Wife. Runner. Firefighter."

• And Paul Peterson, "Dentist. Sports Fan. Firefighter."

It's one more way city departments are trying to fill their forces in a time when fewer people say they have the time or can make the commitment.

Seventy-two percent of all firefighters in the country are volunteers, according to the National Volunteer Fire Council. That's dropped 8 percent over 20 years.

To fill the vacancies, cities are targeting groups beyond the 18- to 25-year-old men they traditionally have.

Thus the campaign featuring Comb, a Vietnam vet, and Toavs, a woman.

"The market's kind of tapped out on 25-year-old men," said Toavs, 34, who began with the department in 1998.

She enjoyed responding to calls, and her husband's father was a volunteer firefighter in Crystal for more than 30 years, so "he was used to the beeper."

Golden Valley took a chance on her, she said, despite her height (5 foot 3) and weight (115 pounds).

"Sometimes people have a tendency to discount the smaller people," she said. "But the big burly guys aren't going to get into a small little hole ... or be lowered down a rope. Each person offers something different."

"Volunteer" firefighters actually are paid in most cases. In Golden Valley, volunteers start at $8.99 an hour. A recruit's first year is training-intensive, and weekly training sessions continue through a firefighter's career.

But the job gives back 10-fold in "rewards and satisfaction," Kuhnly said.

The department's next informational meeting for prospective volunteers will be held at 6:30 p.m. July 10, and more sessions are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Aug. 21. To learn more, call 763-593-8080.

Jenna Ross • 612-673-7168

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