BROKEN BOW—Volunteers are needed to serve with the Broken Bow Fire Department and Emergency Management Services (EMS). Broken Bow City Administrator Dan Knoell and Fire/EMS Coordinator Andy Holland appeared on the KCNI/KBBN Get Up and Go Breakfast Show last week saying there are currently openings on both rosters.
Rural and city fire department volunteers work to prevent and put out fires, protect homes and property, and coordinate fire/tornado warning sirens. The Broken Bow rescue unit is also made of volunteers and provides ambulance services that can help with life-threatening situations, provide immediate medical assistance, and provide transportation to local or regional hospitals.
Andy Holland said both fire and EMS is in need of more volunteers to serve Broken Bow. Dedicated individuals serve community members by responding to calls nearly every hour of every day.
“We’re always needing help with fire and EMS. It’s a never-ending battle. We get the older ones that get off the department due to health and other reasons so we always are needing the young ones to step up and help out,” Holland told KCNI/KBBN.
Regarding training, Holland said the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) classes are pretty strenuous and take some time to complete, but are offered through local colleges each year. Contact Andy Holland to set up a contract with the city, which will pay for an individual’s EMT class. However, if an individual does not pass the class, he/she is required to pay back the money.
Holland said when an individual does pass the training course, the city asks for a two-year contract to serve with the Broken Bow Ambulance Service. Individuals must also be certified with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians and maintain a certain number of EMT hours and continuing education.
An application is required to serve with the Broken Bow Volunteer Fire Department and completion of a three-day fire school is required the first year of serving on the department. Holland said fire school takes place in Grand Island.
Andy Holland
Fire & EMS Coordinator
P.O. Box 504
1848 South G Street
Broken Bow, NE 68822
Phone: (308) 872-1253
