NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. — As firefighter recruitment levels decrease, fire stations all around Northumberland County have been looking for new ways to get more volunteers.
"Some estimates say it's decreased since the 1970s somewhere around 300,000 down to roughly 30,000 now is the estimate through Pennsylvania here," said Chief Clint Herr, Ralpho Fire Company.
So the Elysburg Fire Department and the Overlook Fire Company joined forces on a professionally produced video that highlights all the good and fun reasons to become a volunteer.
"In this day and age with social media, it seems like it's the easiest to get out there; it covers a much larger audience, compared to like if we sent out a flyer, it's just right around here," said Chief Herr.
The video is nearly six minutes long and features interviews with other volunteers and scenes showing not only fires but also community events.
In the digital age, both companies believe this is the best way to reach the next generation of firefighters.
"Mailers, like flyers coming out, getting into some of the high schools, Danville has a fire club in their high school, Northumberland county vo-tech has an emergency services program," added Chief Herr.
Even so, the shortage of volunteers is becoming dire.
"On a good day getting ten people out on rigs is good for us, a bad day, one, two. So it's really coming down to, we need people," said Second Asst. Chief Erik Santor, Ralpho Fire Company.
You can watch the entire video and find more information on how to become a volunteer on Elysburg Fire Department's Facebook page by clicking here.