Fire departments reach out to volunteers for extra manpower - WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL

A decline in volunteer firefighters is forcing departments to rely on each other for help in Alabama and across the country.

"We want the public to understand that we're all having problems with manpower. The second page issue is not really an issue at all," said Fire Chief Ted Kavich with Waterloo Volunteer Fire Department.

Kavich and chiefs from all 14 Lauderdale County volunteer fire departments addressed concerns over departments having to be paged more than once.

"We don't want people to get any false sense that we are slipping or we're not going to respond because that's not the case," said Chief Wesley Smith with Central Volunteer Fire Department.

Smith and the other men say the repeat pages allows for more departments to assist on calls, especially during the day when most people are at work. 

"It hurts because we really do try our best and what people need to realize is we all have normal jobs, we all have normal families, and we all have everything else going on that everybody else has in their life," said Smith.

In an effort to help fight back against the declining numbers, volunteers are now listening and responding to pages outside of their coverage area.

"It's become a real major factor now that we listen to each other that we know what's going on in the other area because you know you may be going to Oakland or Cloverdale at any minute or anywhere you're needed or vice versa. If it's a community in need we're going to go," said Smith.

One thing's for sure, these volunteers are committed to helping protect their communities.

"We're here. We've been here, and we'll always be here. We just need a few more of us," said Smith.

You don't have to fight fires to volunteer.

To find out how you can help, just visit your local department and they can help you get started.

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