LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Volunteers have formed the backbone of emergency response across the U.S. for generations. As time goes on, however, fewer people are answering the call to serve.<\/p>\n
The Idalou Volunteer Fire Department has 23 total volunteers covering roughly 100 miles of eastern Lubbock County. Chief Russ Perkins says that\u2019s a major difference between his department and a city\u2019s, like Lubbock Fire Rescue.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there\u2019s a structure fire in Lubbock, they have three or four engines, a ladder truck, a couple of chiefs, you know, 18 to 20 people on a reported structure fire,\u201d Perkins said. \u201cThere are 23 [total] on the Idalou Volunteer Fire Department.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the U.S. Fire Administration<\/a>, 70% of firefighters across the country are volunteers. That means they help their communities for free in addition to their day jobs. If a call comes in during work hours, they\u2019re expected to leave and join the response.<\/p>\n \u201cSome of us are retired, some of us work in town, but the majority of my department works in Lubbock,\u201d Perkins said. \u201cYou might have three that are able to show up, or 13, or you might have 17 of us show up.\u201d<\/p>\n