Southern Stone County Fire seeks
to hire full time firefighters
The department will be accepting applications for full time firefighters through the end of the month of July.
July 15, 2021
Kadee Brosseau DeCourley
The Southern Stone County Fire Protection District is hiring additional full-time firefighters.
Deputy Chief Mike Moore said the hiring comes as the new Station Two is currently being built in Kimberling City.
“Right now, we are getting ready to hire three additional firefighters who will help man that station,” Deputy Chief Moore said.
In recent years, the number of emergency calls that the district receives has increased to about 3,000 calls per year. More calls require more help. The department will not only add new full-time, career firefighters, but it will also hire additional reserve firefighters.
“What that means is any person who completes the application process, but we don’t necessarily have a career, full-time position available to them, they can actually sign on as a ‘reserve firefighter’ to be able to cover shifts, sick time, and stuff like that. It creates, kind of, a hiring pool for future employment,” Deputy Chief Moore said.
The new station in Kimberling City is expected to be finished before the end of the year. The new station will be located in an area from which two-thirds of the department’s calls come. Deputy Chief Moore said the goal is to be prepared to utilize the new station most effectively by filling it with well-trained, full-time firefighters.
“Gives us a chance to get to know who are going to be the best candidates to fill those additional spots that we will be looking to fill closer to the end of the year,” Deputy Chief Moore said. “We want to make sure that we have at least some staffing at the new Station Two when it’s completed.”
The department will be accepting applications for full-time firefighters through the end of July. Some of the applicants will likely be firefighters who currently serve as volunteer members of the fire department.
“We totally expect that. That’s a part of the group that we are looking to be able to draw from. We also know that there are other folks out there who are looking for career firefighter positions,” Deputy Chief Moore said. “There is a lot of competition between career departments as far as salary, benefits. So, there are a pretty good number of folks who are looking at career department positions. It’s very competitive.”
Deputy Chief Moore said the department isn’t only looking for full-time firefighters but also more volunteers. Southern Stone County Fire is a combination department, meaning it has both paid and volunteer firefighters. It still heavily relies on its volunteers. Like other departments, it sees a shortage of volunteers.
“Every volunteer department within the state of Missouri, Arkansas - I mean, you could go anywhere and ask a volunteer department, ‘Do you have enough people?’ Ninety-nine percent of them are going to say ‘No. We are desperately needing volunteers.’” Deputy Chief Moore said.
There are many different positions within the department for which people can volunteer.
“We are asking anybody who has even a notion. If you think it’s something you might want to pursue, please come talk with us. We would like to have that conversation. We’d love to tell you what it is that we can do to help you help your neighbor,” Deputy Chief Moore said.
To apply for a full-time position, applicants must have firefighter one and firefighter two certifications. The application deadline is July 30.
Kadee Brosseau DeCourley
The Southern Stone County Fire Protection District is hiring additional full-time firefighters.
Deputy Chief Mike Moore said the hiring comes as the new Station Two is currently being built in Kimberling City.
“Right now, we are getting ready to hire three additional firefighters who will help man that station,” Deputy Chief Moore said.
In recent years, the number of emergency calls that the district receives has increased to about 3,000 calls per year. More calls require more help. The department will not only add new full-time, career firefighters, but it will also hire additional reserve firefighters.
“What that means is any person who completes the application process, but we don’t necessarily have a career, full-time position available to them, they can actually sign on as a ‘reserve firefighter’ to be able to cover shifts, sick time, and stuff like that. It creates, kind of, a hiring pool for future employment,” Deputy Chief Moore said.
The new station in Kimberling City is expected to be finished before the end of the year. The new station will be located in an area from which two-thirds of the department’s calls come. Deputy Chief Moore said the goal is to be prepared to utilize the new station most effectively by filling it with well-trained, full-time firefighters.
“Gives us a chance to get to know who are going to be the best candidates to fill those additional spots that we will be looking to fill closer to the end of the year,” Deputy Chief Moore said. “We want to make sure that we have at least some staffing at the new Station Two when it’s completed.”
The department will be accepting applications for full-time firefighters through the end of July. Some of the applicants will likely be firefighters who currently serve as volunteer members of the fire department.
“We totally expect that. That’s a part of the group that we are looking to be able to draw from. We also know that there are other folks out there who are looking for career firefighter positions,” Deputy Chief Moore said. “There is a lot of competition between career departments as far as salary, benefits. So, there are a pretty good number of folks who are looking at career department positions. It’s very competitive.”
Deputy Chief Moore said the department isn’t only looking for full-time firefighters but also more volunteers. Southern Stone County Fire is a combination department, meaning it has both paid and volunteer firefighters. It still heavily relies on its volunteers. Like other departments, it sees a shortage of volunteers.
“Every volunteer department within the state of Missouri, Arkansas - I mean, you could go anywhere and ask a volunteer department, ‘Do you have enough people?’ Ninety-nine percent of them are going to say ‘No. We are desperately needing volunteers.’” Deputy Chief Moore said.
There are many different positions within the department for which people can volunteer.
“We are asking anybody who has even a notion. If you think it’s something you might want to pursue, please come talk with us. We would like to have that conversation. We’d love to tell you what it is that we can do to help you help your neighbor,” Deputy Chief Moore said.
To apply for a full-time position, applicants must have firefighter one and firefighter two certifications. The application deadline is July 30.