Volunteer first responders of all capacities are needed in Washington Township.
The Washington Township Volunteer Fire Company is hosting an open house Saturday on the company grounds in an effort to bolster its volunteer roster.
In Pennsylvania, the number of volunteer firefighters has plummeted since the 1970s, when there were about 300,000 firefighters, according to the Office of the State Fire Commissioner. Only about 37,000 firefighters answer the call of service today in Pennsylvania.
Washington Township has about 40 active volunteers, including seven female firefighters and a handful of social members.
“Every department is in need of volunteers. I think it’s a generational and society thing. There are fewer people volunteering. It’s everywhere but we’re still holding our own,” said fire company president Jay Morgan.