As Ohio’s 39th State Fire Marshal, I’ve dedicated my career to protecting the safety and well-being of our communities. Today, I’m calling attention to an urgent matter facing our state– one that threatens the foundation of emergency preparedness in Ohio upon which we have come to rely.

Across the nation, including right here in Ohio, we’re experiencing an alarming decline in the number of volunteer firefighters. Many people don’t realize that about 70% of Ohio’s nearly 1,200 fire departments rely on volunteers. That’s right, the majority of firefighters in this state aren’t collecting a paycheck — instead, they’ve stepped up to put their lives on the line to protect their families, their neighbors and their hometowns. These brave men and women are the backbone of our fire service, often the first to respond when disaster strikes in communities large and small. But while emergency calls continue to increase across Ohio, the number of those brave individuals willing to serve as volunteer firefighters is dropping fast.

The numbers tell a troubling story. From 2018 to 2021, the state experienced a 6.5% decrease in the number of volunteer firefighters. Meanwhile, during that same period, emergency calls increased by 9%. This isn’t just an Ohio problem — it’s a national crisis. Nationwide, volunteer firefighter numbers have reached historic lows while call volumes have more than tripled in the last 35 years. This trend is simply unstainable.

Now is the time for Ohioans to act, and we just made it easier to do so. I’m excited to announce the launch of a brand new Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment Portal — a state-of-the-art tool designed to streamline how Ohioans can connect with their local volunteer fire departments to learn about how they too can serve their communities.

This portal is a game-changer. In a matter of seconds, individuals can enter their location and contact information, then submit their inquiry directly to their nearest volunteer fire departments. Fire chiefs are then notified so they can follow up with those potential recruits. Simply put, this is a one-stop shop for anyone looking for ways to serve, support and protect their community and make a potentially life-saving difference.

This portal builds on our recent success in raising awareness about this critical need. Following a 2023 report from the Governor’s Volunteer Fire Service Task Force, we launched a media campaign to highlight this issue and call Ohioans to action. We saw an incredible response, one that tells us Ohioans are ready and willing to do what it takes to reverse this dangerous trend. Ohio-based visits to recruitment websites increased by over 1,000%, and individuals conducted more than 14,000 zip-code searches for positions and initiated over 2,500 contacts with local fire departments. While those statistics indicate progress, the reality is much more needs to be done if we are to achieve meaningful change. Awareness campaigns and recruitment portals, while important, only work if people are willing to step forward. That’s where we’re asking you to act.

Volunteering as a firefighter isn’t just about fighting fires anymore. Today’s volunteer firefighters respond to medical emergencies, car accidents, hazardous material spills, and natural disasters. They’re community helpers in the truest sense, and the Division of State Fire Marshal’s Ohio Fire Academy provides all the training and classes volunteers need at no cost to them.

There’s no question that becoming a volunteer firefighter is a significant commitment; it requires time, training, and courage. But I also know that Ohio is filled with people who care deeply about their neighbors and communities. We’ve seen it time and again — when the chips are down, Ohioans answer the call.

The future of Ohio’s volunteer fire service is critical to the safety of our communities and everyone who calls them home. While we’re committed to doing everything possible to support our current volunteers, we need brave and selfless Ohioans in every corner of the state to consider how they might step up and become the heroes our communities desperately need.

The question isn’t whether we can afford to recruit more volunteer firefighters; the question is whether we can afford not to. I think we all know the answer to that question.

I urge Ohioans to consider this calling. Visit our new Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment Portal at http://com.ohio.gov and take that first step. Your community is counting on you, and I believe you’ll find that answering this call to service will be one of the most rewarding decisions you’ll ever make.

Because, at the end of the day, volunteer firefighters aren’t just the backbone of Ohio’s fire service — they’re hometown heroes who make the ultimate difference when it matters most.