First responders have been increasingly strained as changes in peoples’ mobility, living and work habits undercut the framework that has made this system possible.
“There’s a problem and we’re looking for people,” said Endeavor Moundville Fire Chief Mike Bordeau. “We put a thing out on our Facebook page looking for recruits and we got one recruit out of it, but getting word out is one of the hardest parts.”
The department is operating with 17 members, which Bordeau says is “definitely not enough,” with the department lucky to get three people out on a daytime call, given the number of members who live outside the Endeavor area. The majority of those serving the community, Bordeau said, are between 40 and 65 years old, many hopefully expected to spend more years with the department, but with an average leaning toward retirement age.