Fire districts struggle to deal with shortage of volunteers, EMTs

Rural fire departments in Whitman County are facing a downward trend in volunteers available during the day, in addition to dropping numbers of volunteers with EMT training.

To manage, the Rosalia fire department has plans to hire a part-time firefighter with EMT training to cover the town of 640 during the day. Chief Bill Tensfeld said his district made the choice because they have less than five volunteer fire fighters ready during the day.

Rosalia 10 years ago had roughly 35 volunteers, about 20 of which had EMT training, Tensfeld estimated.

Rescue crews from many rural districts often resp...