GOSHEN COUNTY – Firefighters from the Yoder Volunteer Fire Department are surprised they were not dispatched to Idaho this year.

“I don’t think we went to Idaho this year, did we?” Michael Ice asked the others.

“I don’t think so,” Yoder Fire Chief Justin Burkart said.

Of course, they did drive through Idaho and its fires to get to other fires in Oregon and California where their help had been requested.

“It’s kind of weird driving through a fire to get to a fire,” Cody Cox said.

“Yeah, we did that twice,” Trevor Pulver said.

Firefighters from YVFD were dispatched to a total of 15 missions outside of Wyoming in 2021, and they began much earlier in the year than usual. While the fire season does not typically get going until August, the year 2021 saw firefighters heading out as soon as June.

The early and busy fire season taught firefighters to be prepared and to be prepared early.

“Every year, we say we are going to be all set and we’re not going to get caught again,” Robbie Edmunds said. “And then every year fire season kicks off earlier and you’re trying to react instead of act.”

As much as these firefighters enjoy their job and the sense of fulfillment that comes with it, they do miss their families when they are away. Fighting wildfires in California for a month at a time can mean missing birthdays, anniversaries and other important milestones.

“This year, we were called out on Thanksgiving and New Year’s,” Pulver said.

The National Multi-Agency Coordination Group determines the National Wildland Fire Preparedness Levels for each incident across the country. These levels help ensure each area and fire department has the resources they need. The levels range from one to five and determine how long visiting firefighters are there for. This was the first time in a while YVFD firefighters experienced a level 5, being on site for up to 28 days.

The workdays can be anywhere from 12 to 16-hour days, and the accommodations are not usually anything to write home about. Cockroach infested motels make for unpleasant sleeping arrangements, and restaurants (that are most likely also cockroach-infested) serve “weird food” and only take cash.

“I sent my guys to California, telling them they were staying in a hotel. They got there and found out they weren’t and had to go buy tents and sleeping bags at Walmart,” Ice said. “Now, we have tents and sleeping bags and don’t have to worry about it!”

As difficult as it can be, there are bright spots. Community members show their appreciation to firefighters in different ways. A mother and her little boys set up a sign on the side of the road, thanking the firefighters for their work. A neighborhood came together to put together a potluck for the heroes working to save their homes and their lives.

Their families at home know they can always reach out to other firefighters when they need help. Many of them consider each other family, the department forming a sort of brotherhood. Many of them see the same firefighters from across the country year after year, making it simple to form close friendships with people they never would have met if not for their jobs.

Firefighters also say the seasonal aspect of the job makes it easy to “work hard, play hard.” The fire season can be brutal and can last much longer than expected, but fighting wildland fires can also pay pretty well compared to other jobs demanding time year-round.

Because YVFD is dispatched to so many federal fires, it receives federal funding and new firefighters are able to start at $32 an hour. Working 16-hour days dispatched across the country, that adds up to about $8,000 in two months. There are a few certifications needed before starting, but as with any other job, with more experience and certifications comes a higher rate of pay.

“Our tax monies go to fund these federal fires,” Burkart said. “Those funds that we made are going to go towards this new truck, and then we’re going to be able to send out two trucks full-time this summer.”

The salaries paid to YVFD this past year totaled $364,195. The federal fires and missions provided a total of $1,764,850. These funds are going into upgrading equipment and other benefits to the local community, including the new truck.

YVFD members wish more young people in the community would explore their options in volunteer firefighting.

“There’s not a whole lot of young people coming up to step into volunteer firefighting,” Bob Hershey said. “It’s a really good opportunity for these kids getting out of high school looking for summer jobs before going to college…Being a member of the community and being willing to volunteer, for me, is great experience for them.”

Edmunds said he wished someone had told him about the opportunities available as a volunteer firefighter when he was in high school.

“There is a national shortage of young firefighters,” Caleb Anderson said, he himself being one of those young firefighters.

Fighting wildland fires is different than structure fires not only in process but also in spirit. Firefighters say fighting wildland fires gives individuals and teams the opportunity to come together in unity to fight for a common cause. Rather than several departments vying for political prowess, friendships are formed.

Every fire is an opportunity for firefighters to learn something new. YVFD firefighters spent a total of 9,801 hours fighting wildland fires this past year. That amount of training and experience would take years for them to gain at home.

YVFD is looking forward to another year of doing what they love with people they care about. Every mission both at home and abroad brings new opportunities.

“You always come back a better firefighter,” Cox said.