Kentucky relies heavily on volunteer fire departments to keep their communities safe, but departments across the Commonwealth are struggling to fill vacancies.
The National Fire Protection Association reports volunteer rates have been steadily declining nationwide since 1987.
Sand Gap Volunteer Fire Department Chief Lonnie Madden said they’re dispatched to an average of 250 calls every year, but they do not always have the personnel they need to respond.
“I’ve knocked a lot of fires down by myself before,” he said. “Most of your volunteers around the state have done that.” Madden said he has 42 volunteers on the roster. The majority work full-time jobs they cannot leave to answer a call in the middle of the day, Madden included. Christian Collins works at Jackson County Dispatch during the week and volunteers on his time off.