There are three things in that article that you need to think about:

1. Between 1984 and 2006, the number of volunteers nationwide fell by 8 percent, or nearly 74,000, according to information from the National Fire Protection Association.

During the same period, the number of emergency calls to paid and volunteer departments doubled. The statistics don't break down the increase based on department, but volunteer chiefs say they're busier than ever.

...and the reporting requirements for each call has increased INCREDIBLY. We do something called an NFIRS report for each call. Imagine applying for a home loan every time you came home. It's not quite that bad, but it is about 6 screens of data entry. For each call.

2. "I hate to admit it, but there's been more times this year where other departments have had to help us out," said Bill Fortune, the fire chief in Ogallala, Neb., about 20 miles from Big Springs. Of the 75 volunteer positions on the Ogallala department, only 31 are filled.

Every one of our structural fire calls and auto extrications involves at least 2 additional departments. There's no shame in mutual aid.

3. Small town chiefs have also dreamed up their own promotions, from paying volunteers a nominal fee, to rewarding firefighters with golf outings, movie tickets or banquets, to providing services such as free baby-sitting.

We can't afford that, but we have started to reimburse members for mileage and some members (fire police) for hours spent on scene.

None of it is working.

To my point: Don't have a fire, especially during the day. Get medical training, at least to basic first aid, and keep it up to date.