Volunteer fire departments in need of more volunteers
CBS America · Just In
CBS America
Just In
Nearly 70% of the fire crews working in departments across the country are volunteers, according to the National Fire Department Registry. Tom Hanson reports on how that safety net is shrinking due to a growing volunteer shortage.
Breakdown
- Almost 70% of US fire crews are volunteers, crucial for small communities.
- Volunteer numbers have dropped by nearly 20% since 1985, while emergencies have tripled. 1m 24s
- Volunteer fire departments save taxpayers an estimated $46.9 billion annually. 1m 6s
- Lawmakers are offering incentives like student loan forgiveness to recruit volunteers. 1m 48s
- Some towns are shifting from volunteer to paid fire crews due to shortages. 2m 7s