Want to be a firefighter? Ankeny, Urbandale try out new ways to get recruits

AI-assisted summary

Des Moines metro fire departments are facing a shrinking pool of applicants, leading to new recruitment strategies.

In-house fire academies and internship programs aim to widen the candidate pool by attracting applicants without previous experience.

Des Moines metro fire departments are drawing from a shrinking pool of applicants, so some departments are trying new ways to get more recruits.

Ankeny this summer launched its first fire academy. And Urbandale plans to roll out an internship program this fall to create more pathways into its fire department.

The cities' efforts show that even as many metro cities build new fire stations to keep up with growing populations, it's not easy to find enough firefighter candidates.

"We're all struggling with staffing," sa