This little one station shop is proof that a strong culture can achieve great things with limited resources.
In 2018, Hygiene was an all-volunteer, respond-from-home volly department. The leadership at the time created a shift program and remodeled the old single room firehouse into makeshift living quarters and started a paid-part-time firefighter program.
Over the last few years, many of the volunteers have been hired at career departments and chosen to stay at Hygiene part-time. What that turned into was everybody bringing the best from their career jobs and combining it into what Hygiene is today. About 1/3 of the firefighters are career at other agencies. Many of the new volunteers brought on go career within 18 months of joining.
While the department only runs 250-300 calls a year, it’s developed a strong culture of firemanship. The officers are allowed to be officers and make decisions for their crews and on scenes. Mistakes are generally treated as teaching moments. And the admin backs up their crews.
Nowadays, the crews live out of a trailer behind the firehouse. They did that because a new engine was needed and they gave that priority over having a suitable firehouse to live in.
The engine was designed by the crews destined to use it and has been a huge asset to the community. It’s an absolute battleship designed well for the rural area it’s responsible for.
Staffing is difficult, there’s usually two paid working supplemented by newer volunteers in the back. Plus a battalion chief who responds from home. But that’s the way of the world for small departments.
The crews train hard and play hard. Leather helmets and denim jackets are common. The station is full of art, flags and personal touches. All of that has built an immense amount of pride, which has translated into hungry, aggressive firefighters. It’s been cool to watch and be a part of that.
Hygiene, like all departments, isn’t perfect. It has its ebs & flows and its issues. But overall it’s a unique department that is actively bettering itself and doing a lot with the little they’re given.
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1 Reviews on “Hygiene Fire Protection District”
This little one station shop is proof that a strong culture can achieve great things with limited resources.
In 2018, Hygiene was an all-volunteer, respond-from-home volly department. The leadership at the time created a shift program and remodeled the old single room firehouse into makeshift living quarters and started a paid-part-time firefighter program.
Over the last few years, many of the volunteers have been hired at career departments and chosen to stay at Hygiene part-time. What that turned into was everybody bringing the best from their career jobs and combining it into what Hygiene is today. About 1/3 of the firefighters are career at other agencies. Many of the new volunteers brought on go career within 18 months of joining.
While the department only runs 250-300 calls a year, it’s developed a strong culture of firemanship. The officers are allowed to be officers and make decisions for their crews and on scenes. Mistakes are generally treated as teaching moments. And the admin backs up their crews.
Nowadays, the crews live out of a trailer behind the firehouse. They did that because a new engine was needed and they gave that priority over having a suitable firehouse to live in.
The engine was designed by the crews destined to use it and has been a huge asset to the community. It’s an absolute battleship designed well for the rural area it’s responsible for.
Staffing is difficult, there’s usually two paid working supplemented by newer volunteers in the back. Plus a battalion chief who responds from home. But that’s the way of the world for small departments.
The crews train hard and play hard. Leather helmets and denim jackets are common. The station is full of art, flags and personal touches. All of that has built an immense amount of pride, which has translated into hungry, aggressive firefighters. It’s been cool to watch and be a part of that.
Hygiene, like all departments, isn’t perfect. It has its ebs & flows and its issues. But overall it’s a unique department that is actively bettering itself and doing a lot with the little they’re given.