Ohio Department of Commerce
Ohio Department of Commerce
16/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 17/08/2024 01:33
Governor DeWine Announces Statewide Awareness Campaign to Encourage Ohioans to Consider Serving as Volunteer Firefighters
Columbus, Ohio- Ohio Governor Mike DeWine joined Ohio Department of Commerce Director Sherry Maxfield and State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon on Aug. 16 at the Division of State Fire Marshal's campus to announce a statewide Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign to raise awareness for Ohio's need for volunteer firefighters.
"Many Ohio communities rely on volunteer firefighters to keep them and their families safe every day," said Governor DeWine. "As volunteer numbers decrease, Ohioans are increasingly at risk, which is why it so important to spread awareness for Ohio's need. We hope to encourage everyday Ohioans to become extraordinary heroes by serving their communities as volunteer firefighters."
In 2022, Governor DeWine createdthe Volunteer Fire Service Task Force, a group consisting of volunteer fire departments, municipalities, and state agencies, to study and improve the future sustainability of volunteer fire services in Ohio. The deployment of the PSA campaign is the latest fulfilled recommendation identified in the Task Force's 31-page report.
Starting Aug. 16, two 30-second PSAs will appear on televisions across the state along with ads on various digital platforms, including social media. The PSAs feature current Ohio volunteer firefighters sharing why they choose to serve encouraging Ohioans to consider becoming a volunteer firefighter themselves. Additional information about the campaign is available at com.ohio.gov/MMAF.
Individuals can visit MakeMeAFirefighter.organd search for volunteer firefighter opportunities in, or near, their communities. Users can then click on a specific position, read details about the role, and express their interest. Currently, there are nearly 400 open positions across Ohio listed on the website.
Approximately 70% of the fire services provided in Ohio are via volunteer fire departments. While the number of emergency calls is increasing across the state, the number of volunteer firefighters is decreasing. From 2018 to 2021, there was a 6.5% decrease in the number of volunteer firefighters; meanwhile, from 2018 to 2020, there was a 9% increase in calls.
The nation is experiencing a similar trend. According to the National Volunteer Fire Council, approximately 65% of the country's estimated 1,041,200 firefighters are volunteers, and 64% of 29,452 fire departments in the U.S. are all-volunteer. In 2020, the number of volunteer firefighters in the U.S. reached a low while call volume has more than tripled in the last 35 years.
"Many Ohioans underestimate or simply aren't aware of the critical role that volunteer firefighters play in our daily lives," said Ohio Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. "There is no question that volunteers are a key component in our ability to maintain a strong, robust and responsive fire service across the state. These are men and women who, despite working full-time jobs, have made the decision to step up and serve their communities and neighbors, often on what could be considered the worst days of their lives. The trend we're seeing at this moment in Ohio is unsustainable, which is why now is the time for Ohioans to step up and become the hometown heroes our communities desperately need."
In addition to the new awareness campaign, the Division of State Fire Marshal has made strides toward fulfilling other recommendations from the Task Force, including making training classes at the State Fire Marshal's Ohio Fire Academy 100% free for volunteer firefighters and volunteer fire departments, increasing fire department grant funding to $7.5 million, and hiring a volunteer service coordinator to support the needs of Ohio's volunteer fire service.
Downloadable Media
In order to download the PSAs, click the links below, then click the three vertical dots in the bottom right-hand part of the screen, then select "download."
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About the Division of State Fire Marshal
The Division of State Fire Marshal is part of the Ohio Department of Commerce. The department is Ohio's chief regulatory agency, focused on promoting prosperity and protecting what matters most to Ohioans. We ensure businesses follow the laws that help them create jobs and keep Ohioans safe. To learn more about what we do, visit our website at com.ohio.gov.