Grant helps Fire District 10 amp up recruitment

Spokane County Fire District 10 (SCFD10) officially kicked off new efforts to recruit volunteer firefighters this month with the hiring of its first-ever division chief of recruitment and retention, largely paid for by a highly competitive Federal Emergency Management Agency grant.

The four-year grant awarded in September 2018 funds two-thirds of the new position, which will focus on building up the pool of volunteer members for SCFD10.

Former Spokane County Fire District 3 division chief Debby Dodson accepted the position Feb. 4.

“The need for volunteers is incredible, and that element nationwide has been declining,” she said, “Volunteers are so critical.”

Dodson brings 25 years of experience from Spokane County Fire District 3, where she spent more than two decades as a volunteer.

“Debby brings new enthusiasm and new ideas to a new position in our organization,” according to a SCFD10 press release. “The added pool of volunteers will strengthen our organization’s ability to provide timely response anywhere within our service area with adequate numbers of professionally-trained members.”

After four years, SCFD10 can either re-apply for the grant or fund the position themselves if it’s still necessary.

The volunteer program currently requires “nurturing,” especially since the district is specifically lacking volunteers who live in the local area, Deputy Chief Jack Krill said.

Adding to the problem is an issue facing many volunteer departments — the loss of volunteers who go on to seek career firefighting jobs.

“It’s a huge time commitment, and I don’t think people realize just what volunteers are doing for their community,” Dodson said.

Dodson said her focus in her first days on the job have been meeting people in the SCFD10 community and spreading the word about the district’s volunteer program. Not all volunteers actively fight fires, she said. The district also looks for support staff to help take care of firefighters on calls and other “non-combat” positions.

“There are so many things you can do within this organization,” Dodson said. “There’s so much that needs to be done.”

Shannen Talbot can be reached at [email protected].