Volunteer firefighters remain the backbone of the American fire service. According to the National Fire Protection Association, approximately 65% of the nation’s firefighters are volunteers, and more than 80% of U.S. fire departments rely on volunteer or combination staffing models. Unfortunately, the number of volunteer firefighters nationwide has steadily declined while emergency service demands continue to increase.

San Juan County Fire Protection District No. 3 faces many of the same challenges seen across the country. While career firefighters provide minimal ongoing staffing, volunteers remain essential to maintaining local fire stations, staffing emergency apparatus, and delivering effective fire, rescue, and wildfire response throughout our communities.

The reality is simple: a fire station is only as effective as the people available to respond from it. Fire stations, apparatus, equipment, and facilities represent significant taxpayer investments, but without a healthy volunteer workforce, stations can experience staffing shortages or “brown outs” that reduce their operational effectiveness. Over time, declining volunteer participation can impact emergency response capabilities and may even affect Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau (WSRB) fire protection ratings, which can influence insurance costs for property owners.

Our goal is to avoid that outcome, but we cannot achieve our goal without community support. The solution that has sustained rural fire protection for generations remains the same today: neighbors helping neighbors

Volunteer firefighters are exceptional community members who willingly place service above self. They leave family gatherings, step away from hobbies, and interrupt their daily lives to answer calls for help. They dedicate hundreds of hours to training and preparation so they can respond safely and effectively when a neighbor experiences a fire, vehicle collision, wildfire, or other emergency. Their contributions strengthen community resilience and help improve outcomes when seconds matter most.

Maintaining strong volunteer fire stations is not solely the responsibility of firefighters. It is a community responsibility.

We are grateful for local businesses that already support volunteers through discounts, sponsorships, donations, and other partnerships. We are especially appreciative of employers who allow volunteer firefighters to leave work during significant emergencies. That support can make a critical difference during structure fires, major incidents, and wildland fire events.

There are also opportunities for new, mutually beneficial partnerships. Employee volunteer programs and other private-public collaborative efforts can strengthen the local volunteer fire service which serves the best interests of the entire community and economy. If you are a local employer interested in supporting emergency services in our community, we would welcome your ideas.

The future of local fire protection will be shaped not only by equipment and facilities, but by people willing to serve and communities willing to support them. Every volunteer recruited, every employer who supports a responding firefighter, and every community partnership helps preserve the level of protection our  residents and visitors depend upon.

Together, we can ensure that local fire stations remain viable, emergency response remains strong, and our  communities remain safe for generations to come.

Fire District #3 is currently accepting applications for the winter volunteer firefighter recruit academy.

Complete and submit yours now at www.sjifire.org/join/

Chief Noel Monin
Fire Chief
San Juan County Fire Protection District No.