New Firefighters Work to Reduce Response Times for Department

Grand Forks’ newest fire station is still more than 24 hours away from opening.

The department is also getting 12 new recruits who’ve just graduated from the department’s training program in time to help staff the new facility.

We found out what it is that they think is going to make a difference – and why they want to be the ones to do it.

You can see we have seat buckles, gear in all the seats.  Andrew Emerson is showing off what might be his new department’s biggest recruiting tool.  You can see the thermal imaging equipment — cool!

“I feel like I want to be a helper. I don’t want to pull people down, I want to pull people up,” said aspiring firefighter, Carter Stinson.

At least if the turnout from these tiny future firefighters is any indication.

“Just helping people, not letting them down. Helping them keep their hopes up high,” said aspiring firefighter, Brett Daku.

Andrew and these other firefighters didn’t know they were getting a shiny new station house after joining.

What they did know was that nine minutes was way too slow to truly help fire victims out.

“Definitely. Most definitely. A fire doubles every 30 seconds, the faster you can get it under control, the better,” said Andrew Emerson, new Grand Forks firefighter.

New equipment, new gym, and new technology are all tools to help them help you.

The new station has a video conference room that they’ll use for extra info during their once weekly medical check–ins – important, because 80 to 90 percent of their calls here are medicals. And I don’t need to tell you how important it is to be able to see the person you’re getting information from.

And when it comes to making a difference in an emergency, it’s not just the gear – or even the location – it’s the motivation that really makes the difference

Just helping people, making people’s worst days a little better. Because you never really call 9-1-1 for a good reason.

When the new fire station opens Sunday, they’re hoping it gives them the chance to get their response times down to the more desirable four minutes.