Volunteer firefighter shortage threatens communities nationwide

(InvestigateTV) — The U.S. volunteer fire service spans 290 years, a tradition older than the country itself. In the modern era, most of those firefighters are unpaid.

More than 60% percent of all firefighters in the U.S. are volunteers, according to the most recent data.

Outside of Kansas City, Missouri, firefighter Casey Johnston said many people are surprised when they learn she doesn’t earn a paycheck.

“I think they assume I get paid for it, yeah I do,” Johnston said.

While she does get paid for being an EMT, Johnston said firefighting isn’t about the money.

“I wanted to do something that would make me really happy and I wanted to do something that doesn’t feel like work every day, I want to give back to my community,” Johnston said.

Fewer people answering the call

Experts say fewer people are answering the call to volunteer.

According to the National Fire Protection Association’s most recent data, in 2020 there were just over one million career and volunteer firefighters, the lowest total since 1991.

The NFPA said the decrease was due to a sharp drop in the estimated number of volunteer firefighters.

As departments seek new ways to recruit, staffing shortages can cost more than just lives and property.

Louisiana department feels the strain

Chief Todd Parker of Ward Six Fire Protection District No. One in southwestern Louisiana started as a volunteer in the 90s when he was 18. He said there were almost 60 volunteers then.

“Today we have 16 volunteers and we’re running four times as many calls,” Parker said.

Two of those 16 are Tim Moses and Carly McDaniel. Moses has volunteered for 30 years. McDaniel started volunteering four years ago when she was 17.

“A lot of people don’t like to volunteer for anything. Two, they don’t realize how amazing it is,” McDaniel said.

Moses remains optimistic about recruitment.

“The numbers might get kind of low, and I think, well, is anybody still out there that has that volunteer spirit about them? And the next thing you know, young people show up,” Moses said.

Parker sees a crisis. Enthusiasm to join is dampened by full-time jobs with little flexibility and the expectation to devote time and life for no pay.

“We may have to respond to those emergencies with two or three fire departments,” Parker said.

Parker said the minimum requirements of personnel needed for a traditional residential structure fire make it a struggle for a volunteer department to have enough personnel.

Impact on communities

According to the National Volunteer Fire Council, of the nearly 30,000 fire departments nationwide, nearly 19,000 are all volunteer and more than 5,000 are mostly volunteer.

A faulty freezer set Scott Kyle’s garage on fire in 2019. He said the department responded quickly and saved his house, but this was before a serious nationwide shortage hit in 2020.

“If there’s no volunteers to go, your insurance ratings are going to go up. There’s a whole lot of negative sides to these,” Kyle said.

Beyond raising awareness, Parker is hoping to recruit with travel stipends, food and training.

If the volunteer shortage continues, communities everywhere will face an alarming reality, hoping that those who continue to serve will answer calls quickly and effectively.

There are volunteer firefighting opportunities across the country. To see the need in your area, visit makemeafirefighter.org.