The Blacksburg Volunteer Fire Department said it is seeking people willing to volunteer as firefighters and that the initial training and probationary period for a new recruit lasts about a year.

A Blacksburg Volunteer Fire Department spokesperson said, "We look for somebody that wants to give back to the community and people that are willing to, engage in this activity, which sometimes can be very strenuous and very hard." The spokesperson added, "The training period for a new volunteer, is a year. As they come on, they're on a probationary period that allows us to get them trained if they don't have training and allows us to see how they fit into our department."

The department said recruits who successfully complete the training and probationary requirements are brought on "as either a full member or as a student member." The spokesperson said Blacksburg operates three stations and has a training facility, and that the department receives support from the town of Blacksburg and Montgomery County. "We're very fortunate to have support from the town of Blacksburg as well as Montgomery County. We have a great training facility," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson described the department as a place where volunteers "go on to do great things either here at our department or other parts of the state or the country." The video urged interested people to visit the stations to see equipment and meet staff: "If you have an idea or, any type of interest in being a volunteer, please come by and see us. We'll be glad to show you the department, our trucks, our stations, sit down and talk with you."

Noting broader trends, the spokesperson said, "Volunteerism in the United States is on a decline. It's hard to get people to wake up and want to be a volunteer just because of the time commitment." The department did not provide contact information or dates for information sessions in the segment.

Those interested were invited to visit a Blacksburg station to learn more; specific contact details and eligibility criteria were not specified in the video.