Tom DiCristofaro first started helping the Claymont Fire Company in 1974, and knows just how valuable Delaware's network of fire stations can be when a blaze begins.
"Most people wouldn't care what the name on the side is, what color it is, as long as it showed up 30 seconds ago, that's all they really care about."
Wilmington is the only Delaware community with a fully paid fire staff, with the rest of the state relying on the 3,400 volunteers helping at the over 60 stations throughout the First State.
DiCristofaro serves as President of the Claymont Fire Company and Vice President of the Delaware Volunteer Firefighters Association.
"We could use 1,600 more, but the volunteerism is dwindling, and it's affecting all the companies up and down the state."