Harrison City fire company goes online to recruit volunteers

The Harrison City Volunteer Fire Department has begun an effortto build its ranks through an Internet site and Facebook.

Although no new volunteers have filled out an application at theMill Street fire station since the notice was posted two weeks ago,fire Chief William Hobaugh remains hopeful.

"This is the first time we've tried to get additional volunteers,and we do have a notice out (using social media)," said Hobaugh, whohas been fighting fires for more than 30 years.

"Everybody's getting burned out," he said, because of all theadditional duties required of volunteers.

"Come down and help with what you can do," Hobaugh said. "We needhelp with fundraising and maintenance, too."

He also made a point of thanking the community for all thesupport and help provided through the years.

If a call goes out during the daytime hours an average of four tofive firefighters respond, compared to the evening hours when 15 to24 volunteers are immediately available.

With 36 active firefighters and six junior members, thedepartment is seeking anyone interested in undertaking service tothe community.

Training and equipment are provided at no cost to theparticipant. Potential volunteers can call for details at 724-744-4477, or stop at the station after 6 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. Allapplicants are subject to a criminal background check.

Junior firefighters, age 14-18, need a parent or guardian presentto fill out an application. Also, junior members are restricted intheir hours of participation and duties allowed under the FederalChild Labor Law.

It has been tougher to attract additional volunteers during thelast six to eight years, Hobaugh said, partly because of the extrahours of training necessary since 9/11.

State Fire Commissioner Edward Mann agrees that it is hardertoday to recruit volunteer firefighters as well as to retain thosewho are already active.

"In the mid-1970s, a study was done called 'PA Burning' thatstated there were 300,000 active volunteer firefighters in thestate," Mann said. "Another study done in the late 1990s listedabout 70,000. I think today the number is closer to 60,000."

A former Air Force recruiter, Mann said there needs to besomething to offer the volunteers aside from the needed partnershipwith local governments. An example in Dauphin County is a discountcard for firefighters that can be used at stores and businessesagreeing to the perk.

Using the Internet and Facebook to attract additional volunteersis becoming much more common, he added.

"More and more volunteer fire departments are taking advantage ofsocial media," Mann said. "Some are now utilizing Twitter."