Jan 1, 2016

ND needs to support volunteer Emergency Responders

Holidays bring family, cheer, love, great food, and unfortunately a higher chance for home fires. In the last few weeks it seems every time I check my News Feed or read the paper there is another story about a family who lost their home.

We often forget that there are very few fully paid Fire Departments and Ambulance Services in North Dakota. According to the North Dakota Firefighter’s Association, 96% of firefighters in North Dakota are volunteers. There was also a 2011 North Dakota Emergency Medical Services report that estimated volunteer medical responders save us $31 million a year in donated labor.

We are facing a crisis; the departments we rely on are struggling with ever-growing training costs, equipment costs, and retaining a strong volunteer base. The types of emergencies are even changing. It’s not uncommon to read headlines about train derailments, chemical spills, and semi-truck accidents. Volunteers are being asked to do more with less.

I am running for the North Dakota House of Representatives in District 22 because the Legislature has not done enough to address this crisis. 95% of District 22 is covered by fire departments that are either fully volunteer or a majority volunteer (including West Fargo, Horace, Mapleton, and Casselton). That’s over 13,000 North Dakotans kept safe by volunteers in District 22 alone.

Many states have passed legislation that offer qualified volunteers retirement plans, stipends that cover training costs, worker’s compensation, and even health benefits. Once elected, I will work with local departments and state associations to pass Legislation that will strengthen our volunteer departments.

Not only is taking care of the men and women that take care of us the right thing to do, it also makes fiscal sense. Fire coverage directly affects the cost of your homeowner’s insurance. The bottom line is that volunteer departments save us money and keep us safe. It would be in everyone’s best interest if we do everything we can to support their efforts.

Marijo is seeking the Dem-NPL endorsement in District 22 for the ND House of Representatives.