Aurora Fire/EMS Department facing staffing challenges

Number of volunteers on staff dwindling; EMS now merged into AFD

  • Members of the Aurora Fire Department
    Members of the Aurora Fire Department
  • Members of the full-time ambulance crew include, from left: Amelia Guenther, Amy Tonniges, Caleb Smith, Austin Bader, Chris Hyde.
    Members of the full-time ambulance crew include, from left: Amelia Guenther, Amy Tonniges, Caleb Smith, Austin Bader, Chris Hyde.
  • Members of the full-time ambulance crew include, from left: Casey Schroeder, Tiffany Luebbe, Tim Jones, Sara Scott, Justin Roberts. Not pictured are Grant Carlson and Tayler Nissen.
    Members of the full-time ambulance crew include, from left: Casey Schroeder, Tiffany Luebbe, Tim Jones, Sara Scott, Justin Roberts. Not pictured are Grant Carlson and Tayler Nissen.

    The Aurora Fire Department has been answering the call for decades when local fires or emergencies are called in. That has not changed, though the department itself has changed in many ways.As rural fire departments nationwide are experiencing, the number of volunteers ready and willing to go through extensive training, then leave their homes or jobs when the pager goes off is dwindling, which is …