SPRING LAKE PARK, Minn. (Oct. 11, 2013) – The Spring Lake Park, Blaine, Mounds View Fire Department is looking for a few good citizens who are ready to serve their community. The department is currently searching for volunteer firefighters, and will be doing so over the course of the next four years. “We’re kind of in a transition period,” explains Recruitment & Retention Coordinator Maddison Zikmund. “We have a lot of older members… we’re just looking to add a couple at each station over the next four years.” The department is anticipating a slow turnover rate of current
Current SBM firefighters come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and Zikmund encourages who is anyone interested to apply. “We… use the analogy that you can wear a lot of hats. We have people that are plumbers, people that are engineers, nurses, every walk of life.”
The firefighter selection process is different than a typical interview process. Candidates go through several interviews and evaluations. The evaluations include physical, medical, and psychiatric testing. After the rigorous testing and interview process selected candidates will then move onto several months of training. However, Zikmund assures interested applicants that no previous experience is required, nor is there any out-of-pocket cost to volunteers.
After completing training, new firefighters are ready to serve their communities. In the SBM department firefighters truly are servants, as the position is a volunteer position with no pay. However, their still are perks that the department is able to offer. Pensions are available for volunteers who have completed their commitment.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter, please send your name, address, phone number, work hours/days, and if you have any previous experience to:
Spring Lake Park Fire Department
1710 County Hwy 10
Spring Lake Park, MN 55432
Applications can also be submitted via e-mail to Maddison Zikmund at mzikmund@sbmfire.com. Please call the fire department office at (763)786-4436 with any further questions.
