Sioux Falls is among the nation's 50 fastest-growing metro areas, and Rapid City is close behind. But, these aren't the only communities seeing populations rise. More people are moving into nearby, rural towns.

Harrisburg has more than 10-thousand residents, more than triple its size less than a decade ago. Brandon's population has shot up around 2-thousand people in 9 years. And to the southwest, Tea has grown to include more than 4-thousand residents, double its size a decade ago.

But, as KELOLAND communities grow, services...like law enforcement, education, and even the fire departments... need to adjust as more people become a part of their towns. That's exactly why one KELOLAND community's firefighters are educating the next generation to keep the town safe.

When lightening started this apartment fire in June, volunteer firefighters in Tea put their skills to work. Captain Steve Oberle says anyone and everyone available that day was called out to help.

"There's days it's stressful, and you don't know if your gonna have enough help coming in time,” Oberle said.

But, on that Tuesday, the response did come in time. Crews from Sioux Falls, Harrisburg and Lennox were on scene to aid the Tea firefighters. With the help of area teams, no one was hurt and the fire was out in 40 minutes.

"On a perfect situation, all 33 members are sitting down at the station, and the pager goes off, but in the real world, your only gonna have 5, 10 , during the day,” Oberle said.

That's why the Tea Fire Department is starting up a new Explorer program, to educate area teenagers about the profession and inspire the next generation to consider joining the department. The program lets explorers help with maintenance, cleaning and even some hands on assistance in the field.

"Fire ground support, pull hose, run and get tools for us, any, other needs, come get water, help do clean up. It'd be nice if they liked it, well enough to stay around here,” Oberle said.

So far, 7 teenagers are interested in the program, including 15-year-old Shelby Fowlds and 17-year old Chase Baker. Baker is looking forward to the program, and he has a family connection to the service.

"I'll become a 4th generation, along with my brother. I'm trying to keep it in the family tradition,” Baker said.

And Baker says learning the skills now will give him a step up.

“I've been around a fire station my whole life. I like helping the community, so it'll be a good job,” Baker said.

The cadets still have to be formerly accepted by the department. That will likely happen by mid October.