Volunteers Needed For Local Fire Departments

Be Somebody Campaign In Brule Looks For Recruits

Brule, Wis. – As part of the “Be Somebody” campaign, more than 30 volunteer fire departments throughout North West Wisconsin came together in Brule.

No matter what day, or the time in the day it is. If you’re a volunteer first responder and duty calls, you drop everything and head out the door.

“I’ve had to walk away from games that she’s playing in activities, concerts that she’s involved. I’ve had to leave the dinner table right as were setting it on Christmas Eve.” says volunteer fire fighter, Nova Nordrum

In a rural town in North West Wisconsin, sometimes that call goes unheard, leaving those who are in need of help wondering when and if someone will show.

“They dispatch the local department and page us. They will page up to 5 minutes and if nobody responds because their out of the area then they have to move to the next department. Go through the same process then move to the next department,” says Nordrum.

Volunteers usually aren’t payed employees, but they’ll still respond to many different situations.

“We don’t just respond to fires. We respond to medical calls, car accidents, searches, it’s kind of you name it,” says Nordrum.

The event today in Brule is a way for many departments to recruit volunteers, which is becoming a dying trend.

“Volunteering is getting tougher and tougher to get people to be involved in. People don’t want to give the time,” says Nordrum.

Most volunteers work other full time jobs but still find it rewarding to be able to be there when someone is in need.

“It’s a way to be able to give back to my community. I like to be able to help my community and be able to be there when they need somebody,” says Nordrum.