South Dakota Fire Department May Close Due to Lack of Volunteers

Bath, S.D., Fire Chief Mike Glynn says the department might have to disband if it can’t recruit more volunteer firefighters.

Glynn tells the American News that the Bath Township has 12 registered firefighters, but only five or six people show up consistently.

Brown County emergency management director Scott Meints says state law requires a volunteer fire department to have 15 registered firefighters to become certified by the state fire marshal’s office.

Glynn says plenty of people older than 60 want to volunteer but he has to turn them away because they are unable to handle the physical demands of being a firefighter.