LFR looking to fill numerous paramedic openings

Posted By: Rachael Miner

rminer@klkntv.com

"You know someone called you because they needed help and you’re the one they want," said Lincoln firefighter and paramedic Ally Burt. 

They’re the first ones to provide help in an emergency, but now first responders need help of their own.

Across the country many fire departments are being hit with a shortage of firefighter paramedics and Lincoln is no different.

In the next two years Lincoln Fire and Rescue will need to hire forty firefighter paramedics to keep up with demand.

LFR is currently hiring and if you’re wondering what the job is like Burt, who’s worked for the department for a year now, says it’s unlike any other.

"You come to work, you eat together, you sleep together, you watch movies, you go on incidents together, you save peoples lives together, so you are a family, you spend just as much time with them as you do your other family."

While fighting fires will get your adrenaline pumping, fire calls are far and few between.

Almost 80%of calls the department receives are medical.

To be able to handle so many medical situations every recruit must go through a paramedic program then get certified locally and nationally.

While the training is extensive and shifts are long, for veterans like Chris Gutierrez helping someone in their time of need is a privilege that keeps him going.

"I think that if you want to find your own purpose, which I feel like this has done for me, if you want to find something that you feel like you’re doing bigger than yourself these are all opportunities for you."

Lincoln Fire and Rescue will be accepting applications until October 5,2018.

If you’re interested in applying or want to learn more about the job requirements click here.