Rising fuel costs strain volunteer fire departments nationwide

Budgets Burn Faster

Rural volunteer fire departments across the United States are scaling back non-emergency services as diesel prices top $4.70 a gallon, according to an abc investigation. In communities that rely almost entirely on unpaid crews, higher fuel costs are eroding already tight budgets and threatening response times.

Training Miles Slashed

Chief Matt Rogers of the Harmony Volunteer Fire Department in eastern Kentucky told abc his 24-member crew has reduced weekly driver training from 60 miles to 20 miles per truck. "We can’t afford to wear out the tires and burn the fuel," Rogers said. The department’s annual fuel allotment, set when diesel was $2.85, is exhausted four months before the fiscal year ends.

Fund-Raising vs. Firefighting

Volunteer departments historically depend on fish fries, bingo nights and donation jars to buy gear. Now, abc reports, crews are spending more weekends fund-raising than drilling. In Montana, the rural town of Forsyth had to cancel a carnival that normally raises $18,000 so volunteers could cover an Interstate grass fire sparked by a catalytic converter. "We’re choosing between paying for gas and replacing a 20-year-old self-contained breathing apparatus," Forsyth Captain Leah Blacksmith said.

Federal Help Lagging

The federal Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response grant program can reimburse equipment but not everyday fuel. Legislation introduced last month by Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., would create a $500 million emergency fund for rural fire service fuel vouchers, but the bill remains in committee. Meanwhile, the U.S. Fire Administration estimates that 65% of the nation’s 29,000 volunteer fire departments operate with budgets under $25,000 a year.

Community Impact

Insurance Services Office ratings, which influence homeowners’ premiums, factor in training hours and equipment upkeep. Chiefs worry that cutbacks could raise local insurance rates and drive residents away. "When we can’t train, everyone’s at risk," Rogers said.

Looking Ahead

Departments are experimenting with ride-sharing apps to get off-duty volunteers to the station and purchasing gas gift cards in bulk when prices dip. Still, abc found that without rapid government or private aid, many rural crews expect to park one of every three apparatuses by winter, lengthening response times and shrinking coverage areas across America’s farm belts and mountain towns.