While many of us spent our pandemic days in our PJs and on the couch, firefighters in the Climax Fire Department continued donning their fireproof suits and riding in blaring trucks. The fire department never took a break, says Climax Fire Chief Gary McGee. We had to continue responding to calls.
As costs are rising and volunteers are aging, the fire department is likely to face a crisis soon, according to McGee. Safety and environmental regulations in recent years have proved to be a double-edged sword for many rural fire departments, who relied on informal practices and community involvement in the past. The crisis extends to many other fire departments in rural areas of the country that suffer from similar demographic and cultural trends.