Kentucky Counties Need More Volunteer Firefighters

Many rural Kentucky residents depend on volunteer firefighters to be the first on the scene of an emergency, but the number of volunteers for some south central counties is declining.

Shannon White, secretary of the Barren County Fire Chief’s Association, told the Glasgow Daily Times that of the nine fire departments in the county, eight are volunteer.

Nearly every department in the county has fewer firefighters than desired and the departments can’t afford to lose the ones they have.

Gary Fancher, chief of the North Metcalfe Volunteer Fire Department, said the biggest issue is having enough firefighters available to respond to calls in the middle of the day.