Why Do You Do It?

• There are many answers to this. Most people want to be a part of their community and like helping others. Some people do it for the bonds made with fellow firefighters and EMTs. Some for the rush you get when you are responding to a fire. The reasons are endless. Few things will develop leadership and critical thinking skills like this.
• Whatever your reasons, there is one thing we would all agree on – it is something we absolutely love. None of us realized how much we would love it. It is the best job ever. Why else would people “volunteer” for this? Why do people do it for 20, 30, or 40 years? It is because it is an amazing experience that will change you for the better.

Myth Busters

There are many reasons people give NOT to join. We have heard them all. Truth is, they might not be real reasons.

• It is too dangerous.
  True firefighting is inherently dangerous. However, safety is our utmost priority. There have been many advances in how we fight fire for this very reason.
• I am too busy.
  I can assure you that there is not any person on the department that isn’t too busy. But what if they all decided they were too busy for this? Who would respond when someone call 911? We don’t need all your free time; we need people to give a little, to give what they can.
• I don’t work in town.
  That’s ok. Many of our members don’t work in town.
• I don’t have any medical training.
  After being hired, the city of Sherburn provides and pays for all the Fire and EMT training. The classes are flexible to accommodate busy people with full time jobs.
• I work odd hours.
  Good. We need people to cover all hours of the day. Working odd hours helps us fill some hard to schedule times.
• I am not always available to be on call.
  No big deal. The on-call schedule is pretty flexible. You only need to take call a few nights a month and it is easy to find someone to cover for you if you are busy.
• I don’t think I could handle “tough calls.”
  Truth is, no one can. Tough calls are hard on everyone, but we lean on each other and get through it. We are a family and no one goes it alone. Luckily, these calls are few and far between.

About Us

• The Sherburn Fire Department is a paid on-call fire and ambulance service. The Fire Department serves the City of Sherburn and the Townships of Elm Creek, Fox Lake, Jay, And Manyaska. Our ambulance serves over 180 square miles including Sherburn, Welcome, Ceylon, Dunnell, and the surrounding rural areas. A full roster consists of 25 men and women.
• The members are paid on-call, meaning they get paid for going on fire and ambulance calls and some training time. In addition, there is a pension offered.

Requirements

• To apply, you must live within a 5-minute drive of the Sherburn Fire Hall.
• Applicants are subject to a background check, agility/physical test, oral/panel interview, and a written aptitude exam.
• You can download the application here – or obtain one from any member.
• You can also contact the Fire Chief with any questions.
  • Phone: 507-764-6501
  • Email: fdchief@cityofsherburn.com