| Some
kids were lucky - they grew up to be North Logan firemen
READY IN RED: The North
Logan Fire & Rescue engine is ready to go for these
volunteer fire fighters. / Photo by Erin Wadsworth
By Erin Wadsworth
December 13, 2006 | NORTH LOGAN - Local fire station
seeks willing, hard workers to aide in the protection
of a community, dalmatians need not apply.
Established in 1992, the North Logan City Fire Department
runs entirely on volunteer work from those in the community.
Twenty-eight volunteer firefighters comprise the department;
these people take time out of their jobs and lives to
help others on a daily basis. Some spend as much as
20 hours a week on volunteer service at the department
on top of their 40 hour job weeks, said Captain Jason
Killinen.
"I don't think there's a person in the department
that doesn't love it," said Killinen.
Captain Kim Arnell has been with the department for
four years. A fire-starter at heart, this Logan native
never thought he'd live in North Logan. But shortly
after starting a job for North Logan city he joined
the fire department, and once they found out he had
had EMT training it didn't take much convincing for
him to stay.
"It's been a great experience," said Arnell."We're
like a little family here."
North Logan is part of an agreement with Smithfield
and Logan when it comes to fire response. If there happens
to be a fire in Logan, both North Logan and Smithfield
would also respond to the fire.
"We train with Logan," said Arnell."We use their training
tower, and we've got some of the best training facilities
right now. It's been a benefit working with Logan."
Volunteers are required to live within a certain boundary
area, this allows them to respond to an incident faster.
There are a few exceptions to this rule, but usually
member residences must be within 1000 North and the
North Logan-Hyde Park line.
"The closer you are the quicker you can get here,"
said Arnell, " and we have to watch all traffic laws,
we can't do 90 miles an hour."
They moved into building they operate out of today
in 1993. All of the interior of the structure was completed
by the volunteer firefighters to keep the cost down.
Their fleet boasts a 75-foot ladder truck, and they
are looking to create a substation on main in order
to keep up with the expanding community.
"North Logan is growing," said Arnell, "and we are
hoping to grow with it to serve the public better."
If there is any interest in being trained for volunteer
service at the fire department it takes about 120 hours
to be certified as an EMT and also 120 hours for Fire
I and Fire II together. Trainees will come to the station
for six months of drill, during which time they are
in a probationary period. The training is local and
can be taken at night.
Fire Chief Jon Keller and the rest of the crew encourage
those interested to contact the department located at
2005 N. 1200 East in North Logan.
NW
RB
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