Fire Chief Nick Tyler told the Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District Board of Directors during its May 20 meeting that they are looking outside the box for recruitment techniques.
According to Tyler, after three weeks seeking applicants for entry level positions, the district received four applications, all of which did not meet minimum qualifications. As such, the district decided to pause the hiring process and look into more productive ideas.
“What I found was I’m getting older, so technology gets a little bit different for younger folks,” he said.
One suggestion he received was to create a recruitment video for Instagram and/or Tik Tok. Staff are reaching out to the high school for help on that idea, Tyler said.
He also reported that much of their recruitment is posted on Daily Dispatch – a news and job board site for fire services – but he’s finding that younger generations don’t frequent the site. An alternative is to post on National Testing Network, a job board and contracting company that tests candidates for public safety jobs. The cost for their service gave Tyler “sticker shock,” he said – with quotes between $2,800 to $5,500 a year.
“But what we did didn’t work,” he said. “We’re in that environment where we gotta find candidates. So we’re regrouping and trying to problem-solve this outside the box and do things that we haven’t had to do before.”
Other options include lifting residency requirements, pay increases up to 40% and/or adding a fourth shift – options that other agencies are forced to do.
“It is a problem that’s unheard of, and chiefs are forced to make decisions to try to get people,” Tyler said. “Ten years ago, the same 40% and adding one more shift to a fire department may have been a non-starter. Now people and city councils are interested, and there’s people that are passing it. When we get into this world on people and recruiting and retaining, it gets dark really quick on what the future could hold.”
Meanwhile, the district recently offered two more conditional job offers for SHFAD’s new Wildland Fire Division – bringing the total to 25 – and “traditional seasonals” began working this month. According to an intergovernmental agreement with the Oregon Department of Fire, SHFAD can send up to 25 firefighters on an order, or they can hold back a few and send a Type 6, chipper or other service in their place, thus having some of the crew on-hand for other orders.
During the board meeting, Casey Topp was pinned by his son, Malik Topp, as he was promoted as the district’s newest lieutenant. After Battalion Chief Randy Whitfield retired this year, Lt. Josh Bondesen was promoted to the position and Josh Starha was promoted to lieutenant. Later, Lt. Mike Severns left for Albany Fire, allowing the district to promote Topp to the open position.
Additionally, Jessica Swenson moved into a full-time position in the front office after Julie Mayfield retired.
In other business:
- The board approved an idea floated by Tyler to donate an old ambulance to Oakridge Fire Department, should they need it. Tyler said OFD recently rolled one of its ambulances and is seeking affordable options to replace it. SHFAD has a vehicle Tyler expects they could surplus for $3,000 to $5,000, unless the board prefer to offer it to OFD.
- Tyler reported one of the district’s garage door springs recently broke. They’re working on getting the springs replaced with more heavy duty ones.
- After hearing reports about Samaritan considering options to close birthing and/or other departments at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital, Tyler said SHFAD is working “very closely” with partners and keeping an eye on the matter. If Samaritan makes those cuts, Tyler will be prepared to issue a statement.
- Tyler reported the district was awarded a grant to purchase more life jackets for the life jacket program.
- Tyler reported SHFAD is making more of an effort to be more active on social media by posting current events happening in the district.