Fire departments still in need of volunteers, having an impact on response times

MILLVILLE, Del.- The Millville Fire Department is struggling to find volunteer firefighters.

They said they’ve seen a steady decline in volunteers over the past few years and the pandemic may have made things worse. We’re told there are a few reasons volunteering is down, one reason being the department is busier and getting more calls. In addition, it is requiring more time from people, and people may be busier in their lives, giving them no time to volunteer.

But the Fire Chief said having fewer volunteers is hurting them.

“So, instead of getting 4 trucks out, staffed from Millville we maybe now only get two out or sometimes three 22 so there’s been a little bit of a decline in the amount of apparatus we can get to the scene,” Guy Rickards, Millville Fire Chief, said. “Strictly depending on volunteer response it might have added a minute or two 59 at night especially.”

The Fire Chief told us more traffic plays a role in response times.

And, due to fewer volunteers, they have needed career staff to step in and help. Now, to try and tackle that shortage they’re holding open houses and running advertisements.