Beatrice Fire and Rescue not alone in struggle to fill staff vacancies

BEATRICE – It’s an ongoing battle for fire departments…..keeping rosters filled in the face of salary competition from larger city departments.
Beatrice Fire and Rescue just recently began advertising to fill three vacant firefighter-EMT-Paramedic slots.

"We've had three or four people leave throughout the year. I think it was 2019, we had six that we lost during that year. A lot of it is, we're close to LIncoln...part of the challenge is obviously the Lincoln metro area...they are on a different economy of scale...what they pay out, as opposed to what our economy of scale is. Monetary challenges are definitedly an issue for us."

Beatrice Fire and Rescue Chief Brian Daake says for persons just entering the field, achieving EMT status is about a six-month training process….while reaching Paramedic level takes about two years of training.  Daake says in discussions with other fire chiefs, the struggle to fill vacancies is common….across departments of all sizes.

"Recently, we've actually lost a couple of people to Omaha and Kansas City, Missouri...and Council Bluffs...the dynamics have changed. Usually, it was feeling like we were a training ground for Lincoln, and that process has kind of changed it, as well."

One Beatrice department member recently told KWBE taking a Lincoln department position offered as much as a $25,000 difference in salary. A city job posting lists starting EMT pay at about $45,000, with benefits….Paramedic pay with benefits, beginning at about $55,000. Daake says there positives beyond just the pay level.

"It's a great place to live, we've got a lot of amenities here...the school system was good as my wife and I started having kids....and it's like, if I go to Lincoln...I'm going to be stuck on an engine company...and that's all I'm going to do."

Beatrice Firefighters may be fighting a fire one day…be summoned for a medical call or provide aid at the scene of a traffic accident….all in short order.
Beatrice now has a new fire and rescue headquarters…something Daake says can also be a factor in the hiring process.

"Back in the basement of the historic municipal auditorium...it was a dungeon. Just personal experience, sleeping in the dorm was horrible. I think that does play a little bit of a role in things, because now we have nicer amenities.....and I hope that helps."

Members of Beatrice Fire and Rescue meet with school students, give tours, talk about fire operations….and also participate in community events.
"The Night of the Great Pumpkin....and the guys really enjoy leading the (sports) teams out for state events. We're doing the Santa Fire Truck ride December 2nd....and the Holiday Lighted Parade is coming up. If you want to tour the fire station, just pop in sometime."