LANDRUM, SC (WYFF)
- Posted: August 31, 2016
- By: Tim Waller
- WYFF Post and Video: HERE
In his 34 years as a volunteer fireman, Danny Jones has sacrificed a lot.
“You spend time away from your family and your job. It just takes a lot of time,” Jones said.
These days, officials at Landrum Area Fire and Rescue see fewer volunteers like Jones. Fire Chief Warren Ashmore said volunteerism across the state has dropped.
“Years ago, it seemed like people did more stuff for their neighborhoods. I don’t know if (times) have gotten so busy that it pulled people away from that. It’s not something people growing up now seem to understand,” Ashmore said.
According to the South Carolina State Firefighters Association, there are 17,000 firefighters in the state. More than two-thirds of those have been identified as volunteer firefighters, a number that has held steady since 2012.
Some fear that if the number of volunteers continues to drop, homeowners and property owners could face an increased risk.
Ashmore said the shortage of volunteers has forced fire departments to partner with each other.
“We’re seeing a trend where five or six fire departments show up for a call that generates the number of people we had years ago with volunteers,” Ashmore said.
Story Copyright 2016 by WYFF. All rights reserved.