I just found this news article this morning: http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=515427&catid=2 The face on the fire truck; Golden Valley tackles firefighter shortage Updated: 3 hrs ago One normally must drive on a highway to catch a glimpse of a billboard. The Golden Valley Fire Department is putting its message where it's harder to miss. "We have these huge trucks going down the road," says Fire Chief Mark Kuhnly, "and we thought a mobile billboard would be an excellent way to market the fire department." Market the fire department? Not something a suburban fire chief would have worried about 15 years ago. But departments across the country are now dealing with a shortage of volunteer and paid-on-call firefighters. For some it's an issue of time away from family; for others it's jobs that take them outside their home communities. "With busy lives, people working longer hours, it's a huge commitment to be a paid-on-call firefighter," says Kuhnly. Rigorous training requirements are another obstacle that can hamper recruiting. But Golden Valley is aiming its message beyond the traditional 18 to 25 target age - by suggesting almost anyone can do it. Dave Comb's life-size image now graces the side of a fire truck along with the words, "Vietnam Vet. Car Buff. Firefighter." Comb had just moved from Los Angeles and was looking for friends when he joined the Golden Valley department 16 years ago. "I met more people and had more friends within six months than I had in seven years is Los Angeles." Paid-on-call firefighters start at eight dollars an hour in Golden Valley. Recruits are paid when they are training or responding to a call. Pay varies in other communities. The shortage has caught the attention of state legislators, who assembled a task force on the matter in 2006. Recommendations ranged from tax incentives for volunteer firefighters and their employers - to daycare at or near fire stations for moms and dads who are out on a call. Comb glances at the fire department patch on his shirt, then adds, "I always wear my insignia wherever I go." Now a Golden Valley fire truck is wearing Dave. By Boyd Huppert, KARE 11 News They've got these on each Engine now, that's the one out of my station. Interesting idea, we'll see if it makes a difference with our recruitment this year.
Jenny is out of my station, Dave is out of station 2. The agreement is if you're on the news you buy pie, I've already put in my request for banana cream or lemon meringue
