Defibrillators

"We have the most training it's possible for us to have," Tehle said.

In addition to the extensive certification and training the city responders receive, the department also offers many courses each year to the outlying departments.

Each of the volunteer departments in the area have sent their personnel to the city for training at one time or another, Tehle said.

Neidich, who oversees the city's fire department, said he feels, generally speaking, city residents are not aware of the quality of service the city fire department and ambulance service provides.

He pointed out that "in a busy year," - the department responds to about 3,000 fire and emergency calls a year - ambulance service income makes up about half of the department's budget.

"It's not costing taxpayers as much as they might think," he said.

"They are the most well trained in the area," Neidich said, "and combined with the equipment we (the city government) are abl...

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