By Katiann Marshall – heraldmailmedia.com WASHINGTON COUNTY, MD — Volunteer fire companies from around Washington County gathered Saturday in hopes of recruiting more help. Held outside the Valley Mall, the Washington County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association hosted the Volunteer Strong Challenge, a friendly competition among fire and rescue teams while showing off skills by first responders. Firefighters […]
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Lack of volunteer firefighters in South Carolina reaching critical levels
by Caroline Balchunas Firefighter are a vital part of every community, but the number of volunteer firefighters is on the decline nationwide. In South Carolina, volunteer firefighters have decreased between 15 and 20-percent over the last 15 years, according to statistics from state fire officials. But their role is still crucial, especially for rural […]
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Northwest Indiana volunteer fire departments experience manpower shortage
By Chas Reilly Times Correspondent Local volunteer fire departments are putting out their own calls for assistance as more personnel is needed to help respond to burning buildings, vehicle crashes and other emergencies in their communities. Northwest Indiana fire officials say it’s not a trend specific to this area. Departments from across the country are […]
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No one told me…….
I remember sitting in our living room and telling my wife I wanted to join the Fire Department. I’d seen the look she gave me before. Married guys know exactly what I’m talking about. I told her “I like helping people, and it sounds like fun.” She had reservations, but after a few days and […]
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Firehouses Raise Alarm Over Lack of Young Recruits
The China Village Volunteer Fire Department has 21 volunteers, but only six can fight fires. Most of the rest, said Fire Chief Tim Theriault, are simply too old. “They come and they help and hang around, but I can’t send them into a fire,” Mr. Theriault said. “It’s a young man’s sport.” The firehouse in […]
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NC Fire Dept. Faces 5-Alarm Staffing Problem
J.D. WALKER ON JUL 10, 2016 SOURCE: THE COURIER-TRIBUNE, ASHEBORO, N.C. July 10–ASHEBORO — The future is weighing heavily on the volunteer fire department. The need is as critical as ever — more so now that today’s firefighter is more than a person with a helmet and a fire hose. Modern day firefighters go through […]
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Scholarship programs attract, train tomorrow’s firefighters
By RITA MICHEL – PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE Many volunteer fire departments in the region are looking for ways to attract new — and keep old — members. And a unique scholarship program at Community College of Allegheny County is helping. The only program of its kind in the state, FireVEST — which stands for Fire Volunteer, Education Service […]
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MI Senator Favors Federal Funds to Promote FFs
SOURCE: MCCLATCHY WASHINGTON– U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., introduced legislation today that could help local fire departments promote part-time personnel with federal grant funding rather than being forced to hire new employees and train them. Peters introduced the legislation along with U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, as a way to help save money and hire […]
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Demands of volunteer firefighting lead some to burnout
By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN – BG Independent News As a young boy, Tim Schroeder remembers kids chasing behind fire trucks, then watching in awe as volunteer firefighters battled blazes. Children dreamed of becoming firefighters, and as soon as reaching adulthood, many joined the ranks. That was then. Now, most kids don’t race behind fire trucks, they […]
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