Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
MONTPELIER, Idaho — In Montpelier, and many of the communities here just north of the Utah-Idaho border, becoming a firefighter takes a certain level of commitment.
Chief Mark Parker says the job really does not pay. The Bear Lake County Fire District is a true volunteer agency.
"They get a bottle of cold water or Gatorade at the end of the call," Parker said. "That is what they get."
It takes a certain breed.
"Adrenaline junkies, you know, they like to hear the tones, the sirens," Parker said.
But as the call volume goes up, the number of firefighters is on the downturn — about 25 active out of 59 on the books.
Parker would like to bring that number to more of a consistent 55, to cover this 1,000-square-mile county.
"It's very challenging," Parker said. "I'm looking down the road five years. I've got to get some new guys to train. So when these older guys do retire here next year, … I can maintain my numbers."
Where a busy month would bring in four to five calls around Bear Lake, the numbers nowadays are closer to three a day during the tourism season.
This is the Idaho side of the lake where they're facing these challenges. At the Fish Haven station, for example, they have five volunteer firefighters, but a few are 70-plus years old.
On the east side of the lake, that station is only manned by one firefighter who is over 70.
But all over the county, the call volume is rising. More than 80 calls this year, so far.
"So I see us heading a very critical point in the near future where we're going to be understaffed," Parker said
Parker said volunteer firefighters helped build the station and tanker truck. There's a lot of pride here, but right now it's tough. It's likely because there are people out there who want to help but think they're too busy, he said.
"Come talk to us. Come try it," Parker said. "We put you on a probationary period for three months. Come make some runs with us. Just talk to me. We'll get you on a few calls and we'll let you decide."
He says often around here, people come to realize that they can make it work.
"It's a department that we are very proud of," he said.
