New training rules concern firefighters

Firefighters and others are expressing concerns about newly mandated training for both professional and volunteer firefighters in Iowa. The new rules require a minimum of 60 hours of training, plus an annual 24-hour refresher course. Woodbury County disaster and emergency services director Gary Brown says perhaps there should be a difference in the training for career firefighters as opposed to those who work in volunteer departments. He says career firefighters respond to much different and many more calls than the average volunteer departments.Brown says state requirements for Emergency Medical Services have increased over the years, too, and many have given up their E-M-S certification.Brown is concerned the ranks of volunteer fire fighters will decline because of the training requirements. He says mandated training also raises the need to fund the training.