RAPID CITY, S.D. – Unemployment rate spiked in early 2020 because of the pandemic, but they have been declining since.

Many businesses and companies are still struggling to fill their staff though, which is something that the Rapid City Fire Department is also going through.

Rapid City Fire Chief Jason Culberson says they currently have 18 to 22 job openings, depending on how you count.

“People just aren’t looking for jobs, plus they’re not really looking at public safety to be that job,” Culberson said. “After the COVID-19 pandemic, recruitment for us became difficult because we were on the front lines. People saw that. We didn’t have a choice whether to respond to calls or not. Somebody called 9-1-1, we went. So, overall, recruitment has been difficult across the country for all sectors and it’s trickled down to us.”

Along with recruitment, there is also difficulty with retention.

Being 18 workers away from a full staff, Rapid City firefighters have high workloads, which causes them to get tired.

“Our folks are doing the job of two and three people. Combined with our department is the busiest department in the state, both fire and EMS, and we’re the second largest,” Culberson said. “So, we’re doing excessive number of calls and our call volume’s high.”

The department answers to about 21,000 calls a year, which is close to the amount that communities two to three times the size of Rapid City gets.

Culberson says that they are hoping for a full staff by the end of next year, with about 20 trainees going through the academy. Making it through the academy at different times, most trainees will be entry-level firefighters and paramedics, while some will be just Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

Although experience is ideal, anyone can apply and even be hired at the RCFD where you’ll go through a comprehensive training program.

Photo Courtesy: The City of Rapid City website

“We provide them training from day one so you can come in here with no experience whatsoever and we’ll get you trained up to the level that you need to be before you step out and start working on an engine or an ambulance,” Culberson said. “It’s (the training program) run by our training section and I believe it’s one of the best in the world.”

Qualifying candidates will take a written test and a physical fitness test based on gender and age. The fitness test includes body composition, running or rowing, bench press, push-ups, planks, and sit and reach.

For anyone interested in applying, you can either visit the fire department page on the City of Rapid City website or call 605-394-4180.

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