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Arguments Against Volunteerism

Decent Essays

Volunteerism is dropping for emergency responders, and it is affecting how emergency services can be provided to local communities. Looking for reasons why volunteerism is dropping and what options are available for these volunteer companies and communities in order for them to effectively continue protecting the people and property within their communities is very important to me. If local fire companies no longer exist, how are people in the community going to be protected? In addition to fire suppression, firefighters are called on to assist with numerous other situations including auto accidents, downed wires, flooding, emergency medical service, hazmat incidents, and various rescue operations. There is simply not enough money to fund career fire departments for every community. Even in the …show more content…

Just before I joined the fire company, both Morton Fire Company and Rutledge Fire Company were two separate companies, but they physically were less than one mile apart. Due to lack of funding and volunteers, it was decided by both the companies and their communities that it would be economically advantageous to merge these two fire companies. However, many of the older, more experienced volunteers were not happy with the merger. They felt resentment for losing their beloved neighborhood fire company. Even though the names of each company were combined into the new fire company, the discontented feelings could not be overcome. As a result, many volunteers left the newly joined fire company resulting in a lack of volunteers to service both communities. As a young teenager in a newly united fire company, I did not understand why this union had to take place in the first place. As an adult, I am concerned about the decrease in local volunteer fire companies and how they are going to be able to continue to provide emergency services for their

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