America is short on firefighters, leaving volunteers holding the hose
OMAHA, Neb. — A training drill in Omaha simulates a driver trapped in a crushed vehicle as firefighters work against the clock to gain access. The scenario is routine for fire science students, but fire officials say the challenge begins long before an emergency call: having enough people to respond.
Training future firefighters
Metropolitan Community College operates Nebraska’s only fire science program. It prepares students for careers in the fire service or for serving as certified volunteers in their communities.
“We prepare the next generation of first responders,” said Boomer Strawn, program director of the Fire Science Technology program at MCC.
Strawn, who previously worked as a firefighter, said the program teaches the skills needed to handle emergencies.
“You get to fix an immediate problem, and you may not know what the outcome is by the time you leave, but generally you left them better than you found them,” he said.
Students train in classroom settings and through hands-on exercises that simulate real calls. Enrollment has grown in recent years, with about 98 students in 2014 and roughly 740 in 2024.
While most students are pursuing full-time fire service careers, about 20% train with the goal of serving as volunteers in their hometowns.
“It is not just a paid versus volunteer issue,” Strawn said. “In general, we need first responders within our four counties, as well as all 93 counties in Nebraska.”
A growing need across Nebraska
Even with increased interest in fire training programs, fire departments across Nebraska report difficulty maintaining staffing levels.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, the United States had about 1,041,200 firefighters in 2020, the lowest total since 1991. The NFPA reports that most of the decline stemmed from a drop in the number of volunteer firefighters. 65% of firefighters nationwide are volunteers.
Nebraska reflects that trend. The state has more than 15,000 unpaid firefighters, compared to just under 1,500 paid, according to the Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Office. Of the state’s 478 fire departments, only six are fully paid. A total of 449 operate entirely with volunteers.
“Everybody is needing volunteers,” said Roger Peek, second assistant chief with the Irvington Volunteer Fire Department. “All departments in this area I know are getting busier and busier every year.”
Inside a volunteer department
Irvington, a volunteer department located just northwest of Omaha, lists 38 volunteers on its roster. Peek said only about 16 members can consistently respond when a call comes in. As the district grows and call volume increases, the department hopes to reach 45-50 active members.
“We do everything, fire rescue, anything from assisting a party up that’s not injured, to a CPR in progress, to a car accident, to a house fire,” Peek said.
The demands of the job are one reason volunteers move on.
“We have one member who has made almost 680 calls this year,” Peek said.
Volunteers balance training, certifications, continuing education, and emergency calls with full-time jobs and family responsibilities. Peek said many volunteers stay for a short time before stepping back due to the time commitment and workload.
The work continues
Volunteer departments often assist one another when additional personnel are needed during a call. Irvington responds to emergencies within its coverage area and supports neighboring departments upon request.
“We may not get paid for that, but we are still helping people,” Peek said.
Whether paid or volunteer, firefighters respond when emergencies occur and communities need assistance.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
