Fire District 8 seeks volunteers

As summer approaches, Spokane Fire District No. 8 has put out a call for volunteer wildland firefighters.

The district is responsible for about 1,000 medical and fire calls each year. The volunteers help with the numerous brush fires that occur within the district’s boundaries, which encompass parts of the South Hill and Ponderosa neighborhoods and rural areas reaching several miles south of Spokane Valley.

“It’s really an on-call thing,” said Deputy Chief Lonnie Rash.

Volunteers receive pagers, and in an average year about eight or 10 calls will go out every month between June and September. If volunteers receive a page and are available, they report to the nearest fire station or the fire location and help put it out.

There are no prerequisites to volunteer, and two weekends of training are provided, Rash said.

After that, volunteers are required to attend one night of training each month.

Fires can happen anywhere, and residents from all over the district are encouraged to volunteer.

The wildfire program also is a good way to get involved with the fire district for those considering other volunteer firefighting opportunities, he said.

For more information, call the district at 926-6699 or visit www.scfd8.org. Recruitment will end May 16.