Fire departments need help

03/23/2009 03:31 PM
By: Ryan Burgess
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HINSDALE, Mass - "A fire doesn't care if you're paid, professional, volunteer or a call person. A fire is going to treat you the same," said Hinsdale Fire Chief Larry Turner.



Turner is trying to spark a little interest in joining his department. All over the county, volunteer fire departments are asking for help. A shortage of staff is putting towns at greater risk if a major fire ignites.



"What we really need is the firefighter who wants to give the time, give the effort, get all the training required of them," said Turner.



But that comes at a cost. A poor economy means many people are working overtime just to makes ends meet, leaving little time to volunteer.




Fire departments need help
The Massachusetts Call/Volunteer Firefighter Association is asking for your help. A new recruitment campaign is underway because of a shortage of volunteers. Our Ryan Burgess reports.

"If you're working a second job you just don't have time to put into being a volunteer of any sorts, [let] alone being a firefighter, which takes much more of your time," said Turner.



In neighboring Peru, it's not just about time. It's also about money.



"The main part of the recruiting issue is the training and the equipment to outfit the volunteers with. It takes an average of $2,000 to properly equip the firemen," said Peru Fire Chief Eric Outenrietch.



According to the Massachusetts Call/Volunteer Firefighters Association, there's now some federal money because this shortage is now a national problem.



Last year the Hinsdale Fire Department had twenty volunteer firefighters. This year they're down to 15. That's why the chief says he needs at least five more, and that's not counting EMTs.



Peru is also down to 15 and their chief says he'd also like to add another five.