Golden Valley Fire Department Hosting Recruiting Events to Bolster Firefighter Ranks

Firefighters respond in a moments notice to help others.

But now the Golden Valley Fire Department is putting out a call of its own for help.

Golden Valley Fire Department fire truck leaves to respond to a call.

“Right now, we are actually just under 40 firefighters and we love to have closely 50 paid on call firefighters,” said Bethany Brunsell, the Golden Valley Fire Chief. 

She said the department is feeling stretched.

“We’re still thankfully able to provide service to our community, said Brunsell. “But it puts a strain on all of the firefighters that are here because there are fewer people to share the burden of the work.”

The Department is hoping to fill the ranks with the help of a couple of recruitment opportunities.

A recruitment expo will be held on August 11 at 9:00 a.m.

It will provide hands-on firefighting training.

“They can spray water from a fire hose. They can use what’s commonly called the jaws of life to actually cut apart a car, if they want to, we don’t make anyone do it, but they can climb up to the top of the ladder on our ladder truck,” said Brunsell.

Fire Chief Bethany Brunsell Speaks to CCX about need for more firefighters.

There will be two informational meetings on August 13

“One at 9:30 in the morning. One at 6:30 p.m. and that’s more of a chance to sit down,” said Brunsell. “We do a presentation to talk about what some of the requirements about being a firefighter are. Talk about what some of the expectations are. What the whole process looks like.”  

Brunsell has been a firefighter for almost 14 years.

She said if you have the desire to be a firefighter, you should purse it, no matter what.

“When I first applied to be a fire fighter, I honestly did not think I would get hired. I didn’t think I fit the mold of what a firefighter would look like or be like, and to my surprise, I fell in love with it and made it through all the process and absolutely fell in love with the job to the point that I changed careers, and made it my now career and progressed through the ranks to now being fire chief,” said Brunsell.

The upcoming recruitment opportunities will help others know if it’s a job they could love too.

“All walks of life, all kinds of people can do this job and love doing it,” said Brunsell.

• Important dates:
  August 11, 9-11 am – Recruitment Expo (Station 1)
  August 13 at 9:30 and 6:30 – Recruitment Information Meetings (Station 1)
  August 18, 11:59 pm – application deadline (online)

Golden Valley