VIDEOS/PHOTOS: The fire rescue department in the communities of Neenah and Menasha has found itself in a position that isnโt all that unique: a shrinking applicant pool.
“The last hiring session we did in 2024, the applicant pool was down to maybe 15-20 candidates. That used to be a candidate pool where we would see 30, 40 to 50 candidates,” says Travis Teesch, fire chief for Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue. Teesch says theyโre not the only ones seeing it, but as smaller volunteer departments turn to full-time, and as other departments increase staff due to higher call volumes, their recruiting ground shrinks.
“Thereโs more jobs available than there are people filling those spots,โ Teesch says. That’s great for those looking for a job, he says, but difficult for departments when hiring. Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue already has slightly less requirements for applicants compared to other departments, since they donโt run an ambulance service. That means candidates donโt require paramedic certifications.
