Volunteer Firefighters Asked To Help Improve Departments Across The State.

The West Virginia Extension service is asking volunteer firefighters why departments are struggling to recruit and maintain members and what support firefighters need.  

The survey can be accessed here or via the Extension website here. The survey is open to all volunteer firefighters 18 and older and takes less than 30 minutes.    

According to a legislative audit report from 2024, West Virginia relies on 426 volunteer fire services compared to just 21 career fire departments. Mark Lambert, director of the WVU Extension Fire Service, said today that number is closer to 407 volunteer fire departments. 

“The issue surrounding what has become a problem in any country that uses a volunteer firefighting system is that less and less people are signing up to volunteer, and it’s becoming a recruitment and retention issue, and also a systems issue, obviously,” he said. 

Lambert’s office wants more information to strengthen the volunteer fire service statewide.   

“We’re trying to get a gage on the firefighters, as many as we possibly can in this state,” he said. “How does it interfere with your home life, with your work life, to be a volunteer? We want to get these ideas to the legislature because they’ve been very clear about wanting to help the volunteer fire service with this regard.” 

According to that 2024 audit, the most recent one available, the state distributes around $30 million annually to volunteer and part-volunteer fire departments for the purpose of providing funding for firefighting equipment, training, and maintenance.  

Lambert said the focus of the survey is on active volunteer firefighters, but he would welcome input from former volunteers as well. 

“The main focus, of course, is on active volunteer firefighters,” he said. “But if we hear from those that have already been down that road and they can help us with why they no longer do or those kind of things, then then we will take that too.” 

Firefighters who complete the survey will be entered into a drawing for six, $50 Amazon gift cards.