Firefighters' personal protective gear hanging at the Seeley Lake Fire Station. Chief Bob Vanden Heuvel said there is plenty of room for more firefighters and would like to see every hook with gear. That feeling is echoed in Potomac and the Swan Valley. More volunteers with a variety of skills are always needed.
National media outlets have reported in the last few years a "volunteer crisis" where the perfect storm of circumstances has left entire communities with no emergency medical technicians (EMT) or firefighters. The Montana State Fire Chiefs Association (MSFCA) says there is an extreme shortage of volunteer firefighters across the state. With 400 of Montana's 435 fire departments relying solely on volunteers, the response time varies significantly and the call could go unanswered if no one is available.
Greenough/Potomac Volunteer (GPVFD) Fire Chief Ryan Hall, Swan Valley Emergency Services (SVE...
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