RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — In rural pockets of Tennessee where the nearest fire station can be miles away and response times hinge on whoever can race out the door first, volunteer firefighters have long been the backbone of public safety. Across the state, though, those ranks have been thinning. Local officials said the gap has started to show.
During a recent discussion of the Rutherford County Public Safety Committee, leaders warned that several volunteer departments were approaching what they called a “breaking point.” They’re experiencing fewer recruits, aging gear and an increased call load that no longer matches the number of available hands.
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The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance has stepped in with $20 million earmarked for the Volunteer Firefighter Equipment and Training Grant Program, which is aimed at keeping understaffed departments afloat.
“Having all the equipment that’s needed to do this is something that local communities can’t really afford,” said Gary West, vice president of the Tennessee Firemen’s Association…