PORT ANGELES – Clallam 2 Fire and Rescue will soon be looking to hire a new Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Officer thanks to a significant grant just awarded by FEMA.
The $176,000 grant will fund a 4-year, part-time position designed to seek out new volunteer firefighters and EMTs, which is the pool from which nearly all career firefighters and EMTs are hired.
Chief Jake Patterson says his department feels fortunate to receive the grant.
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“The requests far outweigh the number of awards that are given, so we feel pretty fortunate. They usually anticipate giving out about 300 awards a year total across the entire United States. So we’re excited.”
Patterson says the 4-year position will allow them to set up a recruitment program that should be effective for many years beyond the life of the grant. He also pointed out that the effects of a stronger program in his department will be felt in other departments throughout the region.
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“All the communities on the peninsula rely on volunteer firefighters and EMTs to help augment the career staff that they have. Some of the fire districts are completely volunteer. So even though this grant is directed at our fire district, you’re going to see a benefit because we provide mutual and automatic aid to both Fire District 3 and Fire District 4, City Port Angeles, Olympic National Park, a whole bunch of different agencies.”
Patterson says former Fire Chief Sam Phillips, who retired in June, submitted the grant application earlier this year and Congressman Derek Kilmer and his office were instrumental in supporting their application by submitting a letter of support to FEMA on the District’s behalf.
Photo: Firefighters battling beach fire, from Clallam 2 Facebook page.