By DON KERNAN
For generations, the ranks of volunteer fire companies were filled with the children and grandchildren of firefighters who bravely walked through the bay doors to continue a proud family tradition. Spurred on by a sense of duty, a fire in their blood, hopes of a fire service career, or maybe even just a kick in the backside, that next generation was taking its first steps into our honorable profession, becoming part of the 69 percent of American firefighters who risk their lives without expectation of compensation.
Times have changed, and the kids aren’t walking through the doors as much anymore. There are many reasons for this: Whether it is because of social media, political attacks from all sides against what we do, or just what is called the “Now Generation,” volunteer fire companies around the country are entering a crisis stage in their ability to put properly staffed apparatus on the street rapidly. For the purposes of this discussion, “kids” loosely means any member or potential member of a fire company under the age of 18. This problem means many firehouses are facing the real possibility of closing their doors and not being able to protect their communities.
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