Burkburnett VFD is recruiting new firefighters
By: David Gonzalez
Updated: January 26, 2013
We've been lucky so far this winter fire season even though the drought still lingers but, before you know it, the summer fire season will be upon us.
The Burkburnett Volunteer Fire Department is preparing itself by recruiting new firefighters.
Many texoma communities depend on volunteer fire crews and Burkburnett's VFD is looking for few good men and women who are willing to help.
Captain Rob Snyder says smaller communities like Burkburnett need the help of its citizens when emergencies rise.
"If there was no one to volunteer then those fires would go unchecked," Snyder says. "We wouldn't be able to save property or potentially lives if needed."
Snyder says they are in the process of recruiting new firefighters.
"Hopefully we can get some folks in here and get them trained and get them up to speed," Snyder says. "Of course we'll take as many applications as we can possibly get and then we'll look at the numbers from there and figure out how many people we can use."
The Burkburnett VFD currently has 30 volunteer firefighters but there is a need for more.
Snyder says it's important to find volunteers now because new firefighters are required to go through 26 weeks of training.
"It brings them up to speed and provides for their safety as well as the safety of our firefighters that are fighting the fire to ensure they know what they need to be doing," Snyder says.
He adds, even though the job may be tough at times, it can also be very rewarding.
"Being a part of a volunteer organization gives you a sense of pride in your community. Gives you a sense of belonging in your community and allows you to help the the people out there, the citizens that reside within your community," Snyder says.
If you are interested in becoming a Burkburnett volunteer firefighter, you must be at least 21 years old and must live within the city limits or within a one mile radius.
For more information, you can call the Burkburnett fire station at (940)569-3553, 1(800)-FIRELINE, email burkfire@yahoo.com or visit volfire.com.
