NILES — Those who have ever heard emergency sirens race past their block and wondered where they were going or wanted to experience the adrenaline of rushing to the scene of an emergency to help others, might be an ideal candidate for the City of Niles Fire Department.

The fire department is actively looking to provide training for five to 10 new firefighting recruits in this year’s firefighter one and two programs. 

The programs begin in September and take place either on the weekends or weekday nights.  Both options run over the winter and are structured to accommodate a working adult’s schedule. Those firefighters who successfully complete the training will hold a State of Michigan Firefighter 2 certification as well as Haz-mat Operations and Emergency Vehicle Operation Certifications.     

Firefighters are the safety arm of any community, said Niles Fire Chief Larry Lamb. They are asked to respond to a wide variety of types of calls, day and night, and Niles is no different.  Anything from rescuing someone in the river, responding to a fire in a home, or multi-vehicle accidents are the norm for local firefighters.

More than that, firefighters become a part of a large family that extends internationally, Lamb said. Firefighters from all over the world are part of a big brother and sisterhood. 

“It truly becomes a part of who you are,” Lamb said.   

To find out how to get involved, those interested are asked to call the City of Niles Fire Station at (269) 683-2374. 

Lamb added that the fire department has acquired a SAFER Grant from the Assistance to Firefighters Federal Grant Program that will defer the costs of hiring including medical evaluation, uniforms and training costs of new on call firefighters. The grant will also cover a modest stipend payment of $1,000 for those who successfully complete the training and become certified. 

“We need to act now as the grant will end in 2020,” Lamb said.