YAKIMA COUNTY, WASHINGTON, IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME problem of shrinking volunteer firefighter applicants felt elsewhere around the country. Many of the county fire stations are only covered by paid FF’s during the weekdays and rely on the volunteers for night and weekend coverage. But the volunteer ranks are thinning because the new recruits are showing up in smaller numbers.
Lt. Tyler Abhold from the East Valley district 4 tells KNDU-TV, ”Three or four years ago we got upwards of ten [new volunteers]. This year we’re working with four. It’s hit and miss, but it seems to kind of be progressively getting worse.” East Valley’s gone from roughly 60 volunteers to 45 in the past few years.
KNDU-TV reported on the situation on this video:
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