VIDEO: A nationwide firefighter shortage is leading fire departments to recruit straight from college programs.
Blackhawk Technical College offers a fire and EMS training program that works directly with fire departments. However, this program has seen a decline in enrollment over the years, matching up with the shortage across the country.
"We have instances now where all the ambulances are tied up in one part of the county, so you've got to pull ambulances in from other parts of the county or other counties to come in," said Robert Balsamo, administrative chair for Blackhawk Tech's Fire and EMS program. "That delays that time of care, or a crew getting to that person to give care. Same thing on the fire."
Wisconsin has 812 fire departments statewide, but there are only 10-15 college programs working directly with departments, according to Lakeside Fire-Rescue Chief Randy Pickering.