Personnel from more than 30 volunteer fire departments in Douglas and Bayfield counties will gather from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in Brule for the annual "Be Somebody" recruiting event.
“The 'Be Somebody' event has been very, very positive, as far as both getting volunteers and raising awareness in the community that the service is provided by volunteers, and helping us get equipment that we need and facilitates that we need,” said Brule Fire Chief Keith Kesler.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, 92 percent of Wisconsin fire departments are staffed mostly or entirely by volunteers. They’re in high demand.
“We have departments throughout Douglas County that are in need of members now,” Solon Springs Fire Chief Jonathon Brostowitz said.
Volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians don’t go on every call. Most work full time.