The California Fire Department needs volunteers.
The city's fire department faces a lack of volunteer firefighters to properly function. The department operates on a volunteer basis with only one full-time employee, the fire chief. For decades, the city could count on residents to sign up and assist the department throughout the day. However, in recent years, fewer and fewer volunteers appear to be available.
In an interview with the Democrat, California Fire Chief Brad Friedmeyer explained the problem began between five to seven years ago as residents could no longer commit time to volunteering.
"Most (volunteers) have a job somewhere where they can't get away, like in construction or something like that, and that causes a problem during the daytime," Friedmeyer said.
He explained the national standard for firefighters requires at least two individuals to properly handle a fire emergency. If help is unavailable to Friedmeyer during a call the department receives assistance from the the California Rural Fire District as a part of mutual aid agreements. This is on behalf of both departments as the rural district faces a lack of volunteers as well.
Friedmeyer approached the City of California Board of Aldermen in January about hiring a fulltime staff of 18 firefighters. Staff could start out small and works its way up to the proposed number of employees. Aldermen were hesitant to support the plan until the department looked into more possibilities to gain volunteers.
"This town is growing and we're going to need firefighters and first responders," Friedmeyer said. "I was intending on having somebody at least staffed here (at the fire house) to start out, maybe from six o'clock in the morning to six o'clock at night, and maybe just two to three people - counting me. That's the first step and then later down the line get into a full-time department, where it's 24/7."
During the aldermen's March meeting, Friedmeyer reemphasized the need for full-time assistance. Board members went back and forth on what could be done. However, with no guarantee of help from future volunteers, many were concerned with how Friedmeyer would handle a call by himself. The board approved the fire chief to hire one additional full-time employee to work with while his department continues to look into how to get more volunteers.
According to Friedmeyer, dwindling volunteers are an issue departments are facing across the county. Moniteau County and its neighbors are no exception. Many rural fire departments operate on a volunteer basis, however, as times change and opportunities outside the area become more available local volunteers are harder to come by.
This is part one of a two-part series reporting on the lack of volunteer firefighters in Moniteau County. The next installment will be in the Democrat's March 20 edition.
If someone is interested in offering assistance to the California Fire Department, please call 573-796-1987 for more information.
Democrat photo/Garrett Fuller — California Fire Department volunteer Kole Ingram scrubs a pumper truck Monday at the fire station to keep it looking shiny clean and ready to respond.