A flyer advertises an upcoming town hall to grow membership at Sugar Grove Volunteer Fire Department.

Volunteer fire departments across the United States are facing a continued decline in membership even as emergency calls increase.

According to the Nation Fire Protection Association, there were an estimated 677,000 volunteer firefighters in the United States in 2020 compared with 898,000 in 1984 . This represents a 25% decline. NFPA data shows that approximately 65% of firefighters are volunteers and about 85% of fire departments are staffed fully or mostly by volunteers, especially in rural areas.

At the same time, demand for service has increased. The US Fire Administration (USDA) reports that fire departments respond to far more calls now than in previous decades. A large share of these are emergency medical incidents. Fire department responses have more than tripled from the 1980s.

Local departments in Warren County are not immune to these drops in membership. Sugar Grove Volunteer Fire Department is hosting a community town hall meeting at the fire department on Wednesday at 7 p.m. to address what they call a critical staffing crisis.

At this meeting they will discuss the current volunteer shortage, impacts on emergency response time, the future of the department, and ways the community can help.

Department Vice President Tina Kerr-Garris said this about the situation: “We currently have six EMTs, six ambulance drivers, and five firefighters to don an air pack to provide 24/7 coverage. Of these, we are reduced to two EMTs to choose from total for daytime weekday coverage and one to two drivers. Weekday daytime firefighters capable of donning an (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) is sporadic at best.”

“We are holding this event primarily to raise public awareness about a growing challenge facing our volunteer fire department; a critical staffing shortage that has the potential to impact emergency response in our community. Many residents may not realize the extent of the issue, so this meeting is an opportunity to openly share what we are facing and why it matters to everyone who lives here,” Kerr-Garris continued.

“Beyond awareness, our goal is to highlight that there is a place for everyone to contribute. Supporting a volunteer fire department goes far beyond emergency response. While firefighters and EMTs are essential, there are also many non-emergency roles, such as administrative support, fundraising, community outreach, logistics, and more, that are equally vital to keeping the organization running effectively.

“We want the public to understand that maintaining a strong fire department truly takes a community effort, and that individuals of all backgrounds and skill sets can play a meaningful role.”

From fundraising to janitorial, emergency response to maintenance, there is a place for everyone in the department. Kerr-Garris hopes attendance for the town hall will be high and invites the community to be part of the solution.

“Ultimately, this town hall is about starting a conversation, engaging our community, and working together to ensure we can continue providing reliable emergency services for years to come.”

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