Why Fire and Rescue volunteers serve – COVID-19 and National Volunteer Week reminds us!

In honor of National Volunteer Week, Chief Richard Mabie salutes Warren County Fire and Rescue’s volunteers. “The men and women serving in our local fire stations as volunteer responders and associate members are vital assets to the fire service,” Chief Mabie remarked. “It takes a special person to make the commitment to training, responding, supporting, and fundraising that is required for success,” he said. What motivates people to support their local fire and rescue companies? A recent survey of Warren County Fire and Rescue volunteers captured the top five reasons why they choose to serve.

When presented with an array of motivating factors for volunteering, those surveyed were free to choose among several responses. The highest response (70%) was “Volunteering with fire and rescue has provided a way for me to give back to the community.” The COVID-19 pandemic tests that resolve. It is easier to say that one wants to give back to the community than to put on masks, gloves, and gowns and go serve in environments where there is a potential risk for contracting a deadly virus. Many volunteers in Warren County are putting their health where their heart is.

Beyond separating the courageous from the merely well-intentioned, the COVID-19 crisis has shone a spotlight on the portions of our emergency response and healthcare systems that need attention. One of the strengths of Fire and Rescue Service in Warren County is it is a combination system that relies on both paid and volunteer staff. If dedicated staffing in a station were quarantined for a COVID-19 exposure, the station could continue to operate because there are volunteers in those communities who could perform in responder roles. This is one of many ways volunteers give back to this community.

The second most motivating reason to volunteer, according to those responding to the survey, is volunteering has “given me a sense of belonging to a community of fellow first responders or administrative supporters (57.89%). The need for belonging is universal and the tradition of the fire and rescue service allows volunteers to forge lasting relationships through working together in times of adversity, especially in times like these.

Rounding out the top five reasons volunteers give for serving with Warren County Fire and Rescue are: “Volunteering has been a great experience and I would highly recommend it to others (58%); “Volunteering has helped me to develop new skills and meet some of my personal goals (53%); and “Volunteering has made me a better person (49%).

International emergencies such as the COVID-19 crisis help the community realize what is really important in life: giving back, belonging to a ‘family,’ creating memories through great experiences, developing the skills to help others survive, and becoming a better person. If these goals resonate with you, contact Warren County Fire and Rescue Recruitment and Retention at (540) 636-3830, or visit warrencountyfire.com/join-us.