{"id":19960,"date":"2024-04-22T23:05:35","date_gmt":"2024-04-23T03:05:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wfsu.org\/local-routes\/?post_type=wfsu-news&p=19960"},"modified":"2024-04-23T10:41:18","modified_gmt":"2024-04-23T14:41:18","slug":"the-numbers-of-floridas-volunteer-firefighters-have-dropped-11-percent-since-the-covid-19-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"wfsu-news","link":"https:\/\/wfsu.org\/local-routes\/wfsu-news\/the-numbers-of-floridas-volunteer-firefighters-have-dropped-11-percent-since-the-covid-19-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"The numbers of Florida’s volunteer firefighters have dropped 11 percent since the Covid-19 pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The numbers of Floridians who volunteer at all is less than any other state. That\u2019s according to an Americorps study on trends in volunteerism and civic life. Before Covid, in 2017, it was 22.8 percent, the least of any state. In 2021, it was 15.9 percent \u2013 again, less than any other state.<\/p>\n

But we still have some.<\/p>\n

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\u201c\u2026and whereas Joseph is the first to volunteer for almost every special assignment and runs more calls than 95 percent of other volunteer members. And whereas Joseph cares about the team at Bradfordville Fire Rescue and often calls just to check on his fellow volunteer firefighters…”<\/p>\n

That\u2019s Leon County Commissioner Brian Welch reading a proclamation in honor of Joseph Simmons, Florida’s volunteer firefighter of the year. He\u2019s a Leon resident who works at the Bradfordville and Lake Jackson volunteer fire stations.<\/p>\n

But despite Simmons\u2019 example, the drop in volunteerism has also affected Florida\u2019s volunteer firefighters. In Leon County, volunteers supplement the county\u2019s emergency medical services and the Tallahassee Fire Department.<\/p>\n

Edgardo Grajales directs the volunteer firefighting services for the Florida State Firefighter Association. He says before Covid, the state had 291 volunteer fire stations. Now it\u2019s below 270. Interest has dropped, Grajales says, and volunteers can\u2019t always get time off from their paying jobs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey have to work more than one job now. And it\u2019s hard to, \u2018Hey, can I get some of your time to assist on this?\u2019 Sometimes they can, sometimes they cannot,” says Grajales.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a problem because stations staffed by volunteers can be as far as 45 minutes away from stations staffed by professional firefighters.<\/p>\n

In Leon County, six volunteer fire stations provide fire and medical first response services within the unincorporated areas under agreements with the county. <\/p>\n

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