Ohioans Stepping Up in Response to Alarming Volunteer Firefighter Decline

Ohioans Stepping Up in Response to Alarming Volunteer Firefighter Decline COLUMBUS, OH – Hometown heroes from across Ohio are stepping up to protect their communities in response to the decline in volunteer Fire Fighters. In August of 2025, the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of the State Fire Marshal's Office launched the Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment Portal, which was meant to serve as an easier way for Ohioans to connect with local departments. The numbers are in and from the portal over 536 individuals have been put in direct communication with fire departments for action on their applications. With 130 of them already in the process of helping to fill these open roles. 'The portal has really given us a lot of good feedback in terms of how to reach volunteers or prospective volunteers.' Kevin Reardon, the State Fire Marshal, said. 'Also how to connect them with volunteer firefighter departments in their area and that's very important. Volunteer departments, they struggle to just be a fire department, let alone having to recruit new volunteers. It's an awful lot for small departments to do so, we can fill that void with the portal and then anything we can do to help push people, to local volunteer fire departments, that's a win for us and that's a win for Ohioans.' The portal streamlines the recruitment process and makes it easier for interested Ohioans in joining a volunteer fire service within their area. While these numbers are good, there is still progress to be made. Reardon says nearly 70% of Ohio's 1,200 fire departments rely fully on volunteers and a significant decline a few years ago almost jeopardized the future of volunteer fire services. From 2018 to 2021, the number of volunteer firefighters dropped by 6.5% while the emergency calls from about that same time frame went up by 9%. 'They're staffed with people that are part-time paid or totally volunteer.' Reardon said. 'Meaning, they receive no payment, no benefits, they do this job to serve their community. They're the backbone of emergency services in rural parts, throughout the State of Ohio.' If you're interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter, you can head to the portal to get started.