Huntsville Fire and Rescue just hired 30 new firefighters but the deputy chief says recruitment numbers aren't what they used to be.
Across the country the number of people becoming firefighters has fallen and this is especially true for volunteer departments. The deputy chief for HFR and the vice president for the Madison County Association of Volunteer Fire Departments say they're recruiting enough people, but they hope that doesn't change.
"The year that I was hired I think there were well over 1,000 applicants," said Deputy Chief Tim Barnack. "This past time we were around 400, 430. But it was harder to find a job in 1989 than it is now."