The board of directors for the Hoodland Fire District set two new goals at a
planning session: 24-hour coverage by paid staff at the district’s main station
and limited coverage at the Government Camp station. And at the Sunday,
May 8 board meeting, the board approved hiring one new full time
firefighter/paramedic, the first of four Fire Chief Mic Eby hopes to have on
board in the coming year.

“It is going to get us closer to that (24-hour coverage),” Eby said. “The board
feels it's such an important thing.”

Eby noted that currently volunteers cover the district at night, but there are
times when only two volunteers are able to respond to a call. In addition,
volunteers must wait at a station for somebody certified as an Emergency
Medical Technician and a driver before heading out on one of the rigs.

All paid staff are paramedics and drivers, while approximately 65 percent of
the district’s volunteers are Emergency First Responders, and unable to drive.
The first new firefighter could be hired by October, while Eby hopes to utilize a
Federal Emergency Management Agency grant to pay for the others, including
one who will be designated as a specialist for volunteer retention and
recruitment and public education.

As part of the move toward 24-hour coverage with paid staff, Eby also noted
the district will have to figure out sleepers quarters at the main station. He
added the southwest corner of the building is the likely location, while no
plans are in place for what the quarters would look like.

Eby also noted the district will look into an internship program, potentially
partnering with a college and having interns live at the station.

“It’s an evolving challenge,” he said about staffing. “Once you start catching
up with it, a new aspect comes up.”

Other fire news
The district hired Architectural Cost Consultants to help estimate the costs
associated with renovations at the Government Camp station. Eby noted the
district has received drawings from structural engineers, which the
consultants will use in their estimates.

The board of directors passed the district’s budget at the Tuesday, April 26
meeting, including approving the purchase of two new brush rigs to replace
old ones. Eby described them as “Swiss army knives” of fire rigs, carrying
water, foam to put out car fires, extrication equipment, high angle rescue
equipment and advanced life support.

Eby noted the brush rigs are particularly useful when maneuvering smaller
roads in the district and when responding to home first aid calls.