The Green Bay Metro Fire Department says it remains fully staffed at a time when fire departments nationally are reporting difficulty recruiting and keeping firefighters.
Department leaders said the concern in Green Bay is not a current shortage of filled positions, but a thinner pipeline of people applying for future openings.
Captain Nick Craig compared the change over his career, saying that 24 years ago about 500 people competed for five jobs, while today about 10 people seek the same five positions. He attributed the drop to changing times and generational shifts.
To build interest, the department recruits at schools and technical colleges and takes part in career events during the year. Its largest outreach is a city career fair held in November for eighth-grade students from across the area, where students can try hands-on activities connected to the work.
Craig said the department points to benefits and the chance to serve the community when it talks with prospective recruits, and hopes more young people will consider the job.
