New Recruits Join Winkler Fire Department For The First Time In Six Years

The Winkler Fire Department was recruiting for the first time in six years this fall.

The department recently put out a call for applications to bolster their roster of Paid-on-Call Firefighters with a deadline of September 18.

A total of 14 potential recruits underwent a thorough interview process and physical and aptitude testing. Only seven were chosen to join the department and will start firefighter Level 1 training and finish by June next year. One applicant had already been trained through another department and will hit the ground running.

Fire Chief Richard Paetzold explains they anticipate a number of retirements in the coming months and years. He says the biggest need for manpower comes with structure fires.

However, the department has gone almost six years without recruiting, having been able to average of 15 members attending every fire call.

"That's unheard of," he says, noting other centres are recruiting every year.

"It's partly the community... it's a very stable community, people don't tend to leave, it's very family oriented" Paetzold says.

He notes being paid-on-call rather than just volunteer helps retain members, as well as the regular participation at weekly training nights. The comraderie among members has also kept many on the department year after year.

Long-service medals will be handed out this December for members recognizing 20, 30, even 50 years of service.

"It's a very stable department," Paetzold says. "You have a chance for people to fit in and find their niche, whether they love technical rescue or confined-space rescue... it's a little easier to spend time and money on people when you know you're going to have them for awhile."

The average years of experience on the department is approximately 16 years.