At most businesses, 144 applicants for eight job openings would be an embarrassment of riches.
But for the Kenosha Fire Department, that number of applicants is a steep decline from years past, leaving department leaders wondering how they can encourage more to consider careers as firefighters.
Chief Charles Leipzig said they would have 400 applicants for job openings 10 years ago.
That many applicants from around the country may seem like enough to choose from, but after the rigorous testing recruits go through — including physical tests, written tests, and a sit-down with a panel of interviewers — the field narrowed to 15.