From my experience as a volunteer, the big issues with me are: time away from my employer, and the amount of time to meet minimum standards. Looking at what is required for a volunteer organization in emergency management (or even fire ), the number of hours of training are ridiculous. Most of these classes are simple to me, and forced to sit for 4 hours something I can understand and complete in 1 hour.

Thank you for all the responses and explanations. I just couldn't figure how the volunteers could put it all together, it would have to be incredibly difficult, and the turnover of volunteers would probably be enormous.

Here in my little town, the general rule of thumb: for medical emergencies, they'll be there pretty quick. But if your house is on fire, just cry, because they won't/can't be there in time to do much to save it.

Sue

Or if your very rural the fire response is about 1 hour if they are sober.
I was in high school and just after we went to bed one night we had a knock at the door, a neighbors son had ran the mile down the snow covered roat in bare feet to use the phone because their house was on fire. It was an hour later when the fire trucks came by. Its about a half hour drive to town normally, longer if the weather is bad then all the volunteers had to get from their homes to the station so that took some time.
They were lucky the phone actually worked, its dead more often than not in bad weather.

Thanks so very VERY much for your service all!!

My wife's extended family is filled with Chicago fire fighters, and her father - who had serious health issues - was literally raised and put through college by Chicago fire fighters.

We plan to retire in northern Wisconsin, where volunteer fire fighters are critical. Though right now we only have a plot of land in the area we do everything we can to support the local fire fighters - buying into any fundraisers they have ... and we will continue to do so.

You guys ROCK!!!!!!!