Regardless of whether your career or volunteer, many Fire and EMS organizations are struggling to meet the demands of their citizens. The operational costs (mostly wages and benefits) for career departments are outpacing the increase of tax revenues, making it difficult to retain staff and replace worn equipment. While smaller communities with volunteer departments are wondering where the next new member will come from or when the next one will leave. In the third episode of ROLL CALL we talk with Chief Joel Hallstrom of the the North Park Fire Protection District, and Chief Jaeger of the Monroe Township Fire Department about the challenges facing career and volunteer departments and whether or not mergers, consolidations, or shared services are the answer.
