As the number of volunteer firefighters continues to decline across Ohio, state officials have launched a new online portal to make it easier for residents to get involved and help protect their communities.
The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal’s Ohio Fire Academy unveiled the Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment Portal to connect interested individuals directly with local volunteer fire departments. Users simply enter their location and contact information, and nearby fire chiefs are notified immediately, streamlining the connection process.
“Volunteer fire departments are the backbone of Ohio’s fire service, and our hope is that this new recruitment portal is a game-changer for them, especially in terms of their ability to engage with and recruit the next generation of brave hometown heroes,” said State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. “For anyone looking to serve their community, this is truly a one-stop shop to get connected with their local volunteer departments and make a potentially life-saving difference.”
Approximately 70% of Ohio’s nearly 1,200 fire departments rely on volunteers. However, the number of volunteers is shrinking even as emergency call volumes rise. Between 2018 and 2021, volunteer firefighter numbers fell by 6.5%, while emergency calls rose by 9% from 2018 to 2020.
This trend isn’t unique to Ohio. Nationally, 65% of U.S. firefighters are volunteers, and their numbers have reached historic lows even as call volumes have tripled over the past 35 years.
“The future of Ohio’s volunteer fire service is critical to the future safety of our communities and those who call them home,” Reardon said. “While we are committed to doing everything possible to support the men and women of the volunteer fire service, we are calling on brave and selfless Ohioans in every corner of the state to consider how they might step up and become the heroes our communities so desperately need.”
Unlike national databases, Ohio’s new recruitment portal is locally focused, giving state fire officials better tools to support and communicate with both departments and prospective volunteers.
Chief Dean Ortlieb at the Urbana Fire Division believes this portal is set to have a positive impact on Champaign County.
For more information on how to sign up, visit the Ohio State Fire Marshal website.
