Help wanted signs are not just for Door County restaurants and manufacturers as volunteer fire departments continue to fight their own staffing challenges.

The situation is not unique to the area according to the National Volunteer Fire Council, which estimates volunteer firefighter numbers have dropped from 884,600 to 682,600 in 2017. Door County’s fire departments pay at least $20 an hour to be considered paid on-call, but in many cases commitments like jobs and families keep potential members away. The time commitment also includes classroom time to become a firefighter and training sessions to keep those skills sharp.

The Ephraim Fire Department currently has 28 members, less than the close to 40 that were on duty before current Chief Justin MacDonald joined. He fears a day when department pagers ring for no one.

MacDonald says there could be a point in the future where departments will have to consolidate to combine staff and resources to best serve their communities. He added that one point Northern Door municipalities looked into combining their departments years ago, but they could not agree on how it would be funded fairly.  

MacDonald believes the people that do become firefighters do not just join a department, but an entire family. He hopes more people consider serving their communities by joining their local volunteer fire department.