Sue, I've read the responses to your question and I share their pain. I have watched the volunteer fire companies in my county, almost without exception, become combination departments (Think Higher Taxes). Most of these are now supplementing both day and evening manpower due to the number of jobs that "left" the area causing our folks to seek employment well beyond the districts borders. I have "retired" from the fire service due to the fact that the knees don't work as good as they used to. However, I have remained active in the local rescue company (Heavy Technical Rescue, non-EMS)having been there 36 years, and the manpower shortage is affecting us as well. The most critical times are 6AM to about 2PM, when most of the best trained and most experienced responders are on their regular jobs. With active recruiting efforts we have managed to remain 100% volunteer and we endeavor to remain that way for the foreseeable future. The cost of recruiting, training, and equiping the folks is staggering to the department, but even more expensive is the time and personal expenditures made by the members themselves. The key, at least in our area, is pride and dedication. Without those factors in play we wouldn't be able to sustain the service levels currently provided.