Leaders with the Church Point Volunteer Fire Department say their volunteer numbers are down. 

Berl Adams, Assistant Chief, Chaplain, and Public Information Officer with the Church Point Volunteer Fire Department, says, “Getting people to volunteer is difficult and by looking at studies across the country the volunteerism itself is down.” 

News 10 reports, “Why do you think even nationwide that there’s a decline in volunteer firefighters… any specific reason?” 

“My perspective is it seems people are busy,” explains Adams. “There used to be maybe more pride in community. Volunteerism sort of takes the back seat and maybe part of it is economy and people are having to work extra jobs to pay their bills, so they don’t have time to be a volunteer.” 

Adams says the number of volunteer firefighters has affected fire protection and safety to some degree. 

“I will say through all of it we’re probably currently one of the most trained certified volunteer fire departments that the town has ever had,” says Adams. 

The proposition for the additional $25.00 Fire Protection District 10 parcel fee had been voted on in the midterm election, but it failed.  

Adams says this will affect their future productivity 

“We’re looking education to try to see if we can more educate the people that it’s necessary for insurance rates,” adds Adams. “You have to pull man power from somewhere, but then sometimes it does affect the way that we can fight a fire because you can only use the number of people you have that show up.” 

The Church Point Volunteer Fire Department has mutual aid agreements with surrounding fire departments to help, if volunteers can’t respond to an emergency. 

Adams says they’re building a junior firefighter program which will help teach kids about the importance of fire safety.

If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer firefighters with CPVFD, here is the link.