(Submitted Photo)
According to a Twin Lakes Fire Department and Rescue Squad Press release:
Historic Milestone: Twin Lakes Fire Department and Rescue Squad Welcomes First Full-Time Staff
The Twin Lakes Fire Department and Rescue Squad is proud to announce a historic moment in its almost 100-year legacy: the addition of our first-ever full-time staff. This significant step forward marks the culmination of nearly two years of planning and collaboration between the department, the communities we serve, and the dedicated individuals who make up our team.
Since its founding in 1929, the Twin Lakes Fire Department has been a cornerstone of safety and service for the communities of Twin Lakes, Randall, and parts of Wheatland. Over the years, we have relied on the hard work and dedication of our volunteer and part-time members. However, as demand for emergency services has grown and staffing challenges have persisted, the need for a full-time team became clear. For the past five years, we have faced critical shortages in part-time personnel and volunteers, limiting our ability to ensure timely responses. Recognizing this challenge, the department undertook an in-depth assessment nearly two years ago to determine the best path forward.
With the addition of full-time staff, we are excited to bring significant improvements to the quality of care and emergency response times for our community. By having personnel stationed at our station 24/7, we anticipate reducing response times by up to 8 to 10 minutes. This decrease can make a life-saving difference during medical emergencies, fires, and other critical incidents.
“This is a monumental step for the Twin Lakes Fire Department and Rescue Squad,” said Ron Redlin, Fire Chief. “The decision to hire full-time staff was not made lightly. It required meticulous planning, input from our department members, and the unwavering support of the communities we serve. We are incredibly grateful for the trust and encouragement shown by our residents throughout this process.”
This initiative is a testament to the forward-thinking leadership and commitment to public safety that has defined the Twin Lakes Fire Department for a century. By adapting to the evolving needs of our community, we continue to honor our mission: to protect lives and property with integrity, professionalism, and dedication.
As we look to the future, we remain committed to fostering community support and engagement. We invite residents to visit the station, meet the new full-time team, and learn more about how this historic change will benefit our shared community.
For more information, contact us directly at the station.
14 Responses
clowns
Sounds expensive and unnecessary.
Now the Unions will come calling to capture the minds of the workers and to secure a huge contract and take over the department. Give it 6 months.
No doubt. $$$$$$ taxes
This is an essential move. Fire and rescue departments all over the country are crying out for volunteers. In many places it’s at crisis level.
Someone needs a lake house.
I just love Illinois ideas in Wisconsin!
So many uneducated and ignorant comments. It’s obvious that you have not had to have a loved one need their service. It’s also obvious that you are not one of these men and women who have given up so much of their time away from their family to respond when needed for their community. In this profession, TIME is of the essence. There is a state requirement that dictates the amount of time you have to respond to a call. If you cannot comply with that, the state can shut you down. So, instead of being so critical of this service that you cannot live without, take a bit of time and thank them for all they give up to help those when most needed. 🇺🇲❤️🚑🚒❤️🇺🇲
Actually, as a full time FF/PM I think this is a poor fiscal move.
So which one is the arsonist, again?
Stop it! Thank all of you volunteers for your selfless acts and the help you provide. Dont listen to these negative comments. They are all about drama. Thank you for your service!👍
Seems like a good idea to me. 10 minutes faster response could potentially choose life or death – or saving a house or not.
Shorter response times can save lives and what price do you put on saving a life?
Undoubtedly, the financial costs will only go up, and being an outsider I wonder what was done to recruit volunteers. Was it posted in the papers, on line, at their website or spoken quietly among insiders and how agressive was that campaign? Could the general public meet and pass the entry requirements and background check? Will this remain a hybrid system with a minimal full time staff backed by volunteers and part time? Many of us are not aware of major sweeping changes in occupational safety rules that are about to hit emergency services very hard and will certainly cause the price for service to rise.
What I’m trying to do here is generate some critical thinking among you.
Is the juice worth the squeeze? It is if it’s my orange on the line.
I guess if it was your mother, your wife, your grandmother, your son, your daughter?? I think it would be worth the sqeeze?
The cry for volunteers is a valid one. Once everyone in town started to get sober. Or, their kids grew up and went to prison the only volunteers left were transplants from Illinois who have never, ever, had to use a volunteer anything.