Granton Fire and Rescue, First Responders in need of more members

By Cheyenne Thomas When there is an emergency, emergency response crews know every second counts. Whether it is a fire raging through a family home, a person experiencing a medical crisis or a car accident, having local firefighters and first responders around to respond to the crises no matter the day or time is critical for the health and wellbeing of our local communities.

The Granton Area Fire and Rescue and Granton First Responders are just two of many local crews in need of more members to help respond to emergencies. Granton Fire Chief Gary Eibergen and Granton first responders Pat Wolf and Janell Walter spoke about a few recent changes to requirements for first responder training and why recruiting new members is crucial at this time.

Currently, there are 27 members of the Granton Area Fire and Rescue and 13 members of the Granton First Responders. Granton First Responders are 100-percent volunteer and are always on call. As some members are reaching the age of retirement, they said there are not as many young people coming in to replace what is being lost.

“There are a number of firefighters that are getting close to retirement,” said Eibergen.

“We need to bring in some more members to train while we still have some of these seasoned veterans. It is easier for the younger members to learn the fundamentals and skills they need by watching the seasoned members work.”

“If we don’t have first responders available to respond to a call, then the patient will be waiting additional time before EMS arrives,” said Wolf. “That’s what we don’t want. In our coverage area we got Loyal, Neillsville and Pittsville ambulance dispatched to transport the patient and it’s about a 15-minute extra drive for them to get to scene. Fifteen minutes is a huge deal. That is why the Granton First Responders are so important to patient care in our coverage area; that is why we’re needing more members.”

Last year the Granton Fire Responders had 176 calls within their coverage area, which includes the Village of Granton and the surrounding townships of Grant, York, Lynn, Washburn and Sherwood. The reasons for the calls varied, from accidents to fires to medical emergencies. At each one, Wolf said they were able to see the impact that their patient care had on the people involved, which is the most rewarding part of doing what they do.

“It’s not just Granton that has a problem with finding new members, we just want more people to be aware that it’s happening,” said Wolf. “It’s hard work, but it’s rewarding. Everyone makes a difference here. We’ve been able to help out a lot even before an ambulance arrives. Whether it’s a stroke, an allergic reaction or other emergency, those seconds count.”

The fire department and the first responders have different training regimens for members. After filling out an application, individuals training for the fire department assist on calls during their first year but are not allowed to go into a building to fight the fire until after completing a Firefighter 1 training course. Once the course is complete, the new members continue to shadow the older members as they are taught the finer skills of fighting fires, from how to read smoke to running certain pieces of equipment. The firefighters also meet twice a month to refresh their training and learn new skills.

“The firefighters meet on the first Wednesday of each month and have an hour of training that we do before the meeting and on the third Wednesday of the month there is a more in-depth training that we do,” said Eibergen.

For first responders, volunteers take a first responder course, which members pay for up front but get reimbursed after serving with the department for one year. First responders also take a state test and complete monthly trainings to keep their skills sharp and learn about any new equipment or methods that are being used.

“In years past, first responders had to take a national test along with a state test,” said Walter. “As of Jan. 1 2024, it will be just a state test. The EMTs still take the national test, but first responders are usually volunteers that just want to help the community out; they’re not planning to travel outside of the state and perform first aid. The First Responders meet on the first Monday of the month and have one hour of training and then a meeting to follow. The First Responders do need to take a First Responder refresher course once every three years which is 18 hours of training along with a CPR recertification. Every year we meet with our local medical director so he can check our knowledge on our advanced skills as well.”

To a newcomer, some of these skills may seem intimidating to learn, or they may not be confident that they will be able to perform certain tasks while at a scene. But Eibergen, Wolf and Walter said that it’s OK to start out without any knowledge. The training programs are comprehensive and made to teach people with no prior medical or firefighting knowledge. No one asks for someone to step outside of where they are comfortable, as there are many different jobs that are needed at each scene they respond to.

“It’s hard to tell people what to expect,” said Eibergen. “You just need to try it. On our applications, we have a section where they tell us what they can and can’t do, what things you’re afraid of, and we’ll work around it. If you’re scared of heights, claustrophobic, can’t climb a ladder, that’s fine. We like when you tell us these things because it helps us know what you are comfortable with doing. There are other things that you can do on the scene that don’t involve making you feel uncomfortable.”

“Some people are really good at directing traffic or filling up water tanks,” added Wolf. “We find what you’re good at. We apply your strengths to the group. Everyone has their thing that they’re good at doing and not everyone can do the same tasks. For example, there are some people who are really good at running the water pump on the fire trucks. Not everyone can do that. Community members helping their friends and neighbors is what it is all about.”

Anyone over the age of 18 who has graduated from high school can apply to become a firefighter, first responder or EMT. The only requirement is for an applicant to have a valid driver’s license so they can respond to emergencies. For more information on how to become a member or to receive an application, please reach out to any member of the Granton Fire and Rescue or the Granton First Responders.