When it was formed in 1891, the Mount Vernon Fire Department was comprised of men who were business owners, workers and neighbors.
It took 30 years and a technological revolution before the department hired its first professional firefighters — two drivers to man the department’s first motorized firetruck and a chief.
“(Volunteers) were basically the backbone of the department,” said Battalion Chief Scott Horton.
Now, after nearly 130 years, a Mount Vernon tradition has come to an end as the department has discontinued its volunteer program.
“For a lot of people, it’s how they got their jobs,” said Horton, who headed the volunteer program. “For others, it’s a way to give back to the community.”
Due to cultural changes, including more personal commitments and increased training requirements for firefighters, many fire departments are struggling to recruit volunteers, Chief Bryan Brice said.