05/17/2026
Volunteer Fire Department
Most people assume community fire protection and rescue response comes from full-time, paid crews—but across the United States, the backbone of emergency response is the volunteer fire service. According to the National Fire Protection Association, roughly two-thirds of firefighters in the U.S. are volunteers. That means when a call comes in—house fire, car crash, medical emergency—it’s often your neighbor leaving dinner, work, or sleep to respond.
That reality says something deeper about community. Volunteer fire departments aren’t just about putting out fires; they’re about shared responsibility. They exist because people choose to step forward and say, “If something happens here, I’ll be part of the solution.” In rural and small-town America especially, there simply isn’t the tax base to sustain fully paid departments (even when those tax bases are way out of control). The fact is, without volunteers, there often is no response—full stop.
I've responded to disasters around the world for two decades, in some of the worst situations you could ever find yourself in. Earthquakes, tornados, fires, tsunamis, flooding, and more. But I also volunteer locally too wherever I live, in one way or another, because I believe it's incumbent upon each of us to contribute, not just be takers (especially in today's world!).
I firmly believe that being involved in your community—whether through the fire department, EMS, support roles, or in political leadership—builds resilience that government programs alone simply can't replicate (or, often even afford). It creates trust, accountability, and a sense that people are not alone when things go wrong. I've been with people experiencing their worst day, and that matters. It's good to know that you're not just protected by a system; you’re protected by people who know you, live near you, and care about the outcome.
Volunteer fire departments remind us that community isn’t an abstract idea—it’s action. It’s showing up when it matters most. I have an enormous amount of respect for the men and women who serve in volunteer fire departments, and I'm honored to be apart of one too. - James L. Clark
