The overall volunteer rate in Pennsylvania has been decreasing for years which has had a lasting impact on many fire companies. Rural fire companies have experienced this deficit for a long time.
East Cameron Township Fire Company of Northumberland County has long witnessed the struggle of recruiting new members to serve the community. With only a small number of trained volunteers, the East Cameron Fire Company had to be resilient. Though the current members have many years under their belt and great experience, there is uncertainty of the future of the company because of the lack of new volunteers.
The company primarily serves the small townships of East and West Cameron which combined have a population of around 1,200 residents and a large aging community. Having First Responders nearby is crucial to the rural area as the fast respond time is lifesaving. The number of calls average around two or more each month. This may not be seen as much, but maintaining accessibility to first responders nearby is a human right.
It is urgent that more grants and funding opportunities are available to help tackle the volunteer deficit in rural communities across Pennsylvania. If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.