We employee 21 full-time career firefighters. Those firefighters are assigned to one of three shifts.

Pumper 23's shift includes three firefighters and one officer, or shift supervisor. Pumper 24 operates with two firefighters and an officer. Career crews are supplemented by volunteer personnel as those individuals are available.

A firefighter's shift is 24 hours long -- he eats, sleeps, exercises, trains, performs inspections, and maintains district equipment when he's not responding to emergencies. After a 24-hour shift, the firefighter gets a day off. After the third day on duty, that firefighter's "tour" ends, and he gets a four-day holiday.

Each firefighter literally lives at Station Three or Four for a third of the month.

Minimum requirements to be hired as a Southern Platte firefighter include current certification as an Emergency Medical Technician and certification to at least the Missouri Firefighter I level.

For more information about becoming a Southern Platte Career firefighter, call 741-2900.