Based on research I conducted in the fall of 2017 as part of my thesis capstone from American Military University, they account for two of several notable challenges that fire chiefs of Midwest combination departments are experiencing. The fire service has been fortunate to have outstanding scientific research from UL and NIST over the past decade, including a focus on firefighter training requirements and increasing call volumes. Instead, if fire chiefs realize that many other departments are experiencing similar challenges, collaboration and knowledge-sharing may be fostered amongst departments to find long-term and effective solutions.