Shortage of volunteer firefighters could force more towns to move to paid firehouses, costing taxpayers

Shortage of volunteer firefighters could force more towns to move to paid firehouses, costing taxpayers

Nearly 70% of the fire crews working in departments across the country are volunteers, according to the National Fire Department Registry. These dedicated civil servants serve on the frontline, keeping smaller communities safe, but that safety net is shrinking due to a growing shortage of volunteers.Albert Osterman, 21, has trained for more than 150 hours to become a firefighter. A volunteer in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, he does the job with …