In rural northeastern Connecticut, volunteer firefighters such as David Elliott are shouldering a growing burden. Elliott, a career firefighter with the Fairfield Fire Department, wakes before dawn for a 24‑hour shift and then drives two hours to lead the Bungay Volunteer Fire Brigade in Woodstock. He and others like him are becoming essential as the state’s pool of certified volunteers shrinks dramatically.
Sharp Decline in Volunteer Numbers
Data released by Comptroller Sean Scanlon’s office in May 2025 showed a 62.7% decrease in volunteer firefighters across Connecticut since 2017. The National Fire Protection Association reported that 2020 marked the lowest overall number of volunteer and career firefighters since 1991, with almost a quarter of volunteers leaving the service since 2008.
Impact on Local Departments
Town fire departments are feeling the strain. Preston’s fire chief, Keith Wucik, explained that the town moved from an all‑volunteer model to a mixed paid‑volunteer force after a 2005 consultant recommended hiring full‑time administrative and chief positions. Today Preston employs six full‑time, 12 part‑time, and nine volunteer firefighters, spending $1.2 million on salaries and benefits alone.
Woodstock’s 2026‑2027 budget allocates $631,760 for fire protection, covering three volunteer departments, administrative costs, and contracts, but it does not include any firefighter labor expenses. The town’s three volunteer stations now depend heavily on automated dispatch and mutual‑aid agreements to muster enough personnel for larger emergencies.
New State Legislation Aims to Help
In response to statewide concerns, a bill passed this year requiring fire departments to register with municipal authorities, develop local fire‑protection plans, and create programs that encourage regionalization of services. State fire administrator Jeffrey Morrissette said the law is intended to make public fire protection more transparent and to address the limited capacity of smaller communities.
“There’s a lot of fear out there about the legislation that just passed… I don’t think that was anybody’s motivation,” Morrissette told reporters, emphasizing that the goal is to support, not to take over, local fire services.
Personal Sacrifices and Community Commitment
Elliott’s mother, Barbara Elliott, described how her son would leave family meals, holidays, and birthdays at a moment’s notice to answer a call. “These people commit a lot of time and effort to helping the community,” she said.
Volunteer firefighters in Connecticut now respond to a wide array of calls—car accidents, search and rescue, downed power lines, hazardous‑material incidents, medical emergencies, and even beeping smoke detectors—making them “professional problem solvers,” according to Elliott.
Challenges Recruiting the Next Generation
Recruitment remains a hurdle. Many young adults leave town for college or work, and those who do join often view volunteering as a stepping stone to a career in fire service. The cost of certification—about $1,200 for classes and $6,000 for gear—can be prohibitive if volunteers later depart for paid positions.
Richard Baron, captain of the Muddy Brook Volunteer Fire Department, noted that supporting new recruits who later become career firefighters can ultimately benefit volunteer stations, as those firefighters return with additional experience.
Looking Ahead
As Connecticut’s volunteer fire service continues to atrophy, the new transparency law and regional‑aid programs may provide a lifeline for small towns. Yet the reliance on a handful of dedicated individuals like Elliott underscores the importance of community support and the need for policies that sustain volunteerism while ensuring public safety.
Original reporting: The Connecticut Mirror — read the source article.
