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Fire departments in Connecticut, nation, struggle to find volunteers

The Volunteer Firefighter Is Disappearing in East Connecticut

"We had 28, but we lost another member on Monday due to time constraints. That's 90% of the issue we face. This used to be a farming community where people lived and worked here and had a strong sense of community."<br/><br/>

Eastern CT fire departments stopped training with PFAS foam before ban

Eastern CT volunteer fire departments weathered COVID -19 differently

Eastern Connecticut’s volunteer fire departments, the backbone of the region’s emergency service system, were already finding it challenging to recruit and retain members before the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the region. “Even in normal years, the volunteer fire services had been struggling.” South Killingly Fire Department Chief Seth DeAngelis said. “But when COVID-19 hit, it was like being slapped in the face after being kicked a couple of times in the ribs.” Volunteer departments in Norwich, Plainfield and Killingly each weathered the 2020 pandemic differently, with one losing a handful of members while another at the other end of the state gaining a few.