Volunteer fire departments across the Stateline face unique challenges and top on the list is response time. 23 News I-Team takes a look at how volunteer fire departments handle the rush to rescue.
"We are running so many runs now that volunteers just can't complete that task, "said Loves Park Fire Chief Jerry Wiltfang.
"If we have two or three calls in a row you know, who’s going to go on the second and third calls those are our big concerns," said Cherry Valley Fire Chief Joe Corl.
"Getting that first unit especially on a fire or especially on a cardiac arrest to the scene is a very critical thing," said North Park Fire Chief Joel Hallstrom.
Community fire departments across the country are experiencing a shortage of volunteers.
"Being a volunteer firefighter or a paid-on-call firefighter, it's a big commitment.