Ohio Launches Portal to Address Volunteer Firefighter Decline

Ohio is facing a critical shortage of volunteer firefighters, with nearly 70% of the state's approximately 1,200 fire departments relying on volunteers, yet experiencing a 6.5% decline in volunteer numbers from 2018 to 2021 amid a 9% increase in emergency calls from 2018 to 2020. To combat this trend, the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal’s Ohio Fire Academy has launched a new Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment Portal, designed to streamline connecting Ohioans with local volunteer fire departments by allowing users to submit their contact information directly to nearby fire chiefs. This initiative builds on previous efforts, including the Governor’s Volunteer Fire Service Task Force and media campaigns that significantly increased engagement with volunteer recruitment resources. State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon emphasized the importance of volunteer fire departments as the backbone of Ohio’s fire service and highlighted that the portal aims to be a game-changer in recruiting the next generation of volunteers. The state also encourages those unable to physically fight fires to contribute in other supportive roles within fire departments. This effort mirrors a national decline in volunteer firefighters, underscoring the urgent need to sustain fire protection services in Ohio communities.