Every so often, the local fire dept. asks if the locals would like to be volunteer firefighters.

And I always wonder how someone could afford to do that?

I live in a small town, population 2,475. It is mainly a bedroom community for the state Capital.

We have one signal light, one supermarket, one beer/Playboy/candy store, one gas station, one bar, one RV consignment, one attorney, one cafe, one restaurant, one storage shed builder, a tree nursery, a satellite cop-shop, one small auto parts, two sandwich joints, a barber, a PO, 1.5 banks, three churches, a 2-day food bank, a pole yard, and several fly-by-night car repair places.

There are no big businesses that could afford to let their people just take off. Even in the next town south, the only big employer (a mine) was closed down. I don't think there are any multi-shift places down there, either.

So please educate me on how people (mostly guys) can AFFORD to be unpaid firefighters. If they work north (22 mi) or south (12+ mi), I don't see how they would be available to leave on a moments notice for a fire or other emergency.

Own their own business? Independently wealthy? Work at home? How could someone do it, realistically?

Sue