The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District is looking to recruit new volunteer firefighters ahead of the next wildfire season. Reno Public Radio's Julia Ritchey reports.
Chief Charles Moore likes to have about 100 volunteer firefighters to support its full-time staff, but right now they're at about 65.
"So we're looking for another 30 or so volunteers. ...Particularly we need people up in Silver Knolls and Silver Lake and Lemmon Valley."
Moore says it takes about a year and a half to complete federal- and state-mandated training, but that could be leveraged into a career.
"It is a big time commitment to be a volunteer firefighter, particularly if you're going to be all risk. It's a big plate of training, but nevertheless my job as fire chief it to make sure everyone is trained."
Looking Ahead
Both the district and the city of Reno settled a lawsuit last month that resulted from a contentious separation of the two departments in 2012. Moore says this helps the district move forward with a clean slate.
"As far as talks about re-merger, I don't see anything on the horizon, but we're talking about cooperation instead of consolidation."
He says they're now almost five months into an automatic fire-aid agreement with the city aimed at faster response times regardless of jurisdiction.
Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District will host an informational meeting on volunteer firefighting this Saturday, Feb. 20, at 9 a.m. at the the Washoe County Commission Chambers.