According to the registry of the National Fire Department, about 70% of the fireworks working in departments across the country are volunteers. These dedicated civil servants work on the frontline, keeping the small communities safe, but the safety web is shrinking due to the increasing shortage of volunteers.
21 -year -old Albert Ostman has trained for more than 150 hours to become a fire fighter. Hastings-on-Hudson, a volunteer in New York, works with a deep sense of purpose.
Osteman told CBS News, “My father died in 2020, and the EMS crew helped from the fire department.” “And so after that, I was so, ‘Yes, I want to help people the way they helped me.”
He works in one of the about 20,000 volunteers firehouses across the country, which, according to the Association of Fire Districts of New York State, protects the estimated $ 46.9 billion – $ 4.7 billion per year in the state of New York.
National Volunteer Fire Council President Steve Higshi said, “Was it not for fire departments, those communities will simply separate. We are going to rely on volunteers forever in this nation.”
But between 1985 and 2020, according to NVFC, the number of volunteers declined by more than 20%. At the same time, they call the number of emergency conditions more than three times.
Hirsh said, “There are fire departments in this nation that are responding to thousands of calls every year. They are wearing people. They are burning them,” Hirsa said
Osteman said that in some cases, lack of resources has led to “more deaths”. ,
Some MPs are fighting to recruit young people through encouragement, such as proposed laws that volunteers will provide student loan forgiveness for firefighters. Asked if they felt that they could help the initiative, the osterman looked optimistic.
“If there is a financial incentive that can help in getting education, I am sure it will promote the number tremendously,” he said.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Ostman. “As a student, and a student who knows many other students who are firefighters, it will be a big de-stressor for many people.”
Some cities have already been converted into employees paid by volunteers. Without more volunteers, towns such as Hastings-on-Hadson may face a similar option. For now, the osterman is still responding to the call – not for a check, but inspired to fulfill his civil duties.
“He was a naval man,” Osteman said about his father. “He was a great fan to serve his country and serve his community. I think he would be proud of me for it. Call me crazy, of course, to do so, but he would be happy.”
