Licking County fire officials offer varied reasons for the changing landscape of fire service nationwide.
But the general consensus is that the volunteer firefighter is "a dying breed."
While no organizations specifically track the number of strictly volunteer firefighters in Licking County, the Ohio Fire Marshal's Office tracks statewide numbers. According to data provided to The Advocate, since 2017, there have been about 500 fewer volunteer firefighters in Ohio each year.
Many organizations nationwide are looking at the issue, trying to figure out how communities can staff a fire department to protect their community, Newark Fire Chief Patrick Connor said.
As the nation sees a significant decrease in volunteer firefighters, Connor said, communities, including within Licking County, have been forced to start paying part-time firefighters to ensure someone is available around the clock.