Eagle Fire swears on new full-time employees | News, Sports, Jobs

Staff Photo / Hailey RogenskiA newly sworn firefighter/paramedic poses for a photo with Eagle Joint Fire District Chief Ron Stanish (center) at the Eagle Joint Fire District. Those posing for photos after the ceremony are (left to right) Vincent McClimans, Michael Wright, Jason Miller, Stanish, Jeremy Gless, Joey Milano and Jared Vinkler.

HUBBARD – The Eagle Joint Fire District Board of Directors swore in its first full-time firefighter/paramedic on Wednesday.

Those sworn in are Jason Miller, Vincent McClimans, Joey Milano, Michael Wright, Jared Vinkler and Jeremy Gless.

The six employees were chosen from nine candidates.

Eagle Joint Fire District Fire Chief Ron Stanish started working full time in April, making him the first official full-time employee ahead of the six new hires. The department went full-time in February.

Stanish said he chose the six candidates based on their personality and experience and added that their swearing in was a “a very historic moment for Hubbard.”

“It’s quite an honor and I’m very grateful to have them here,” he said. “It’s a good group of guys we’ve put together and I’m really looking forward to working with them all.”

He said adding full-time employees ensures firefighters will always be there when the community needs them.

“It’s very calming to know that there will always be someone there if needed.” » he said. “(It) takes a lot of stress off people who live in the community (and those) who are members of the fire department, because when shifts aren't covered or there's no one here, we rely on people on leave to come in and answer calls. So this (addition) takes a lot of stress off everyone.

Rick Hernandez, president of the Eagle Joint Fire District board of directors, said he is happy to see the department hiring full-time fire personnel.

“I've been here six years and to see this come to fruition (it's exciting),” he said. “We moved, in the past, from a volunteer fire department with very limited access to manpower to a part-time department several years ago, using the consultancy here and now moving to this full-time service with additional ambulances. . I am honored to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors for this Eagle Joint Fire District.

Hernandez also said he thought the Eagle Joint Fire District would be “a model for other communities as well that are struggling with ambulances and firefighting and I really believe that's going to be something that they're going to look at and try to model.”

Stanish said “It’s a nationwide fight.” for fire departments trying to fill positions.