07/05/2026
🚒 ANSWER THE CALL: WHY VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS MATTER MORE THAN EVER
As of this writing Eastland only has 10 volunteers on the roster and many departments around the county are in far worse condition.
Yesterday, The Alliance Gazette spoke with Fire Chief Shawn Brightman about a challenge facing fire departments across our communities: the need for more volunteers.
For many small towns and rural areas, volunteer firefighters are not a backup plan — they are the plan.
When a house catches fire, a grass fire starts spreading, a wreck happens on the highway, or a medical emergency unfolds before an ambulance arrives, it is often volunteer firefighters who answer first. They protect homes, businesses, families, roads, and entire neighborhoods.
Without volunteers, response times can grow longer, the burden on existing firefighters becomes heavier, and public safety suffers.
That is why recruitment matters.
Fire departments do not just need people willing to wear the gear. They need dependable men and women who care about their neighbors, who are willing to train, and who understand that service still matters.
Volunteering as a firefighter is one of the most direct ways a person can make a difference in their own community. You may be responding to someone you know. You may be helping a family member, a friend, a coworker, or a neighbor on the worst day of their life.
But volunteering is not only about giving back.
For many people, joining a fire department can also open doors.
Volunteer firefighters often gain access to valuable training, hands-on experience, and certifications that can be difficult or expensive to obtain on their own. Depending on the department and available programs, this may include training in firefighting basics, emergency response, rescue operations, equipment use, apparatus support, and other public-safety skills.
That experience can become the first step toward a larger career path.
Many paid firefighters, EMTs, emergency responders, industrial safety workers, and public-safety professionals began by volunteering. Fire service builds discipline, teamwork, leadership, communication, physical confidence, and the ability to stay calm under pressure — skills that matter in almost every career field.
There are personal benefits, too.
Volunteer firefighters often gain lifelong friendships, confidence, purpose, and the respect that comes from doing work that truly matters. They learn how to face difficult situations, solve problems quickly, and serve when others are counting on them.
Not everyone can serve in the same way, and not every role looks the same. Some volunteers fight fires directly. Others help with support, training, equipment, fundraising, community outreach, or emergency response preparation. Age, background, and experience do not automatically disqualify someone.
What matters most is commitment, reliability, and a willingness to learn.
At a time when fire departments everywhere are struggling to find enough volunteers, the message is simple:
Your community needs you.
If you have ever thought about becoming a firefighter, this may be the time to ask questions, show up, and take the first step. Volunteering is a way to protect your neighbors today while building skills that may strengthen your future tomorrow.
The need is real.
The training is valuable.
The mission is meaningful.
And the call is still waiting to be answered.
🚒 Interested in serving? Reach out to your local fire department and ask how to become a volunteer firefighter.
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Eastland Fire Department
Cisco Fire Department
Ranger Volunteer Fire Department
Carbon Volunteer Fire Department
Olden Volunteer Fire Department
