Marion County Fire Rescue is ramping up efforts to support locals interested in firefighting careers as departments across the country struggle to fill their ranks.
According to a 2023 report by FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration, “in recent years there has been a steady decline in the number of firefighters in the nation. This decline is impacting all department types, leaving the communities they serve vulnerable to threats, and increasing the stresses among firefighters and municipalities. It is imperative that we invest in programs and initiatives to incentivize individuals to join volunteer, combination, and career fire departments.”
Currently, MCFR has 51 open positions for firefighters, EMTs and paramedics, but saw success with a recent recruitment event held at Brick City Park on July 12…