East Bethel interim fire chief reports surge in grass fires, launches recruitment push and public information session

Interim Fire Chief Jerry Scribe updated the City Council on April 14 on a rise in grass fires, recruitment efforts and station improvements, and announced a firefighter information session scheduled for April 24 at Station 1.

Scribe told the council the department has been responding to an increased number of wildland and grass fires this spring and has received assistance from the Department of Natural Resources and Anoka County resources. He urged residents to follow DNR fire-condition guidance and warned that unattended recreational fires can lead to large property losses.

On staffing and recruitment, Scribe said branding and social-media outreach have increased the fire department’s online following from about 70 likes to 1,200 followers and that a recent recruitment video had 52,000 views. He said the campaign had already yielded interest from five potential recruits and announced an information session for prospective volunteers at Station 1 on Thursday, April 24, at 6:30 p.m.

Scribe said the new fire-chief hiring process advanced last Friday and the department expects to appoint a chief in May; he also said he plans to reduce his hours (to be reflected in future agenda items) while remaining available for major calls.

On operations, Scribe said crews have inventoried radios and other assets, will remodel station spaces including carpet and a firefighter kitchen, and plan periodic short “learn and lunch” trainings. He also said the department received two FEMA grants totaling nearly $3 million to support statewide work and that the department will use outreach to clarify misinformation on social media.

Council members praised the department’s progress and asked staff to include the personnel committee in the new-chief interview schedule.