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Fire department warns of shrinking volunteer ranks, urges long-term planning
Summary
Corunna's fire department reported a survey showing 19 members now and projected retirements that could reduce active volunteers sharply over the next 10 years, prompting discussion of recruitment, training limits and longer-term options such as districting or paid coverage.
A fire department representative told the Corunna Town Council that a new internal survey shows the department has 19 members now but faces substantial attrition: "As of right now, we have 19 members," the representative said, adding that many told surveyors they expect to leave service within the next decade.
The representative summarized the retirements reported in the survey: one member expects to leave within a year, three expect to leave within one to five years and five expect to leave within five to 10 years. "We're kind of in a wall right now," they said, describing how fewer volunteers and aging personnel are creating gaps in coverage and readiness.
Why it matters: councilors and firefighters said the town's current volunteer model may not sustain required emergency response levels if departures occur as projected. Speakers described mutual-aid strains, limits on training burns imposed by state rules and the loss of hands-on training that older generations once provided.
Councilors discussed a range of responses. The representative said past county conversations have considered a gradual move to a countywide district or territory model; an official who addressed the group said such a transition typically takes a decade to fully implement. The representative noted some neighboring departments have moved to mixed models with full-time daytime coverage and volunteer or part-time night response, but added, "I can't sit here and say that the town has the funds to hire full-time staffing."
Speakers emphasized recruitment and youth engagement as immediate steps. The department plans outreach, an open house to demonstrate equipment and basic CPR for children, and to expand junior firefighter and cadet programs as possible long-term pipelines to sustain staffing. The representative said some recruits have come from outside the town's territory in recent years, but that an organized program is needed to retain them.
The group also discussed training limitations. Speakers said state oversight now restricts the kinds of structure burns previously used for hands-on drills; those restrictions reduce opportunities to train volunteers in realistic conditions.
Next steps: councilors asked staff and the department to continue compiling data and to explore recruitment and regional options. No formal vote was taken on structural change; the conversation closed with a request for continued study and community outreach.
