Firefighters call for citizen support

As our city's population and tourism increase, so has the demand for ambulance and other emergency services from the fire department. While our call volume continues to grow, the number of paid fire department personnel has become dangerously inadequate.

At present, there are only eight firefighter/EMTs employed full-time by the city of Whitefish. Ten years ago, we had more than 30 volunteers. Today, there are only eight active volunteers.

Without more paid, full-time, professional personnel, our fire department's ability to respond to the community's needs for emergency services is not being met.

Public health and safety requires a fire department capable of prompt and competent response 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Four full-time firefighter/EMTs at the Whitefish Fire Department are currently on duty at the fire station from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day of the week. This is barely adequate to handle the call volume we currently experience between those hours.

After 7 p.m., response time is grossly deficient. During the night, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., we have only two full-time firefighter/EMTs on call from their homes. This drastically reduces response times (average out-the-door time goes from one minute in the daytime to nine to 11 minutes at night) and basically leaves us unable to respond to two emergencies at the same time. Because there are only two professionals on call at night, we must hope that one or two volunteers will respond to help.

Thirty-seven percent of our call volume occurs during the night when we have the fewest professional emergency personnel immediately available. This situation is not acceptable for the needs of this community and must be corrected.

The city of Whitefish must authorize the hiring of more full-time firefighter/EMTs.

By hiring more full-time staff, we will have sufficient professional personnel to run a 24-hour shift from the fire station. Out-the-door nighttime response will be dramatically reduced.

A faster response frequently pays dividends in lives saved, injuries limited and property damage reduced.

A 24/7 schedule will mean that firefighter/EMTs will be rested and alert on duty due to time off between shifts. Training will be more efficient and teamwork enhanced because personnel will be working the same shifts.

We will provide a consistent response 24 hours a day, seven days a week, instead of only half the time.

The men and women of the Whitefish Fire Department urge the public to support our effort to strengthen our ability to meet the needs of the community. Presently, that ability is being compromised — 24/7 professional staffing is long overdue.

Get involved. Express support for your fire department. You need us and we need you.

Your Whitefish firefighters.