NORTH CAROLINA -- When there's an emergency, they answer the call. But for fire departments across North Carolina, finding volunteer firefighters is becoming harder. 

  • NC volunteer fire departments have lost an average of 600 firefighters a year since 2016
  • NC fire departments are ramping up efforts to find volunteer firefighters statewide
  • If you're interested in volunteering at your local department, visit here.  

That's why they're ramping up recruitment efforts statewide.

North Carolina Volunteer Fire Departments have lost an average of 600 firefighters per year since 2016.

One fire chief in Apex blames some of that on just not knowing opportunities exist.

"The reason they're vital is they give us the opportunity to have four people in the truck," said Fairview Rural Fire Department Chief Barry Spain. "Currently, we're funded with three on our apparatus, but also we run multiple calls, so when that first engine goes out, our volunteers come in and backfill."

If you're interested in volunteering at your local department, visit here.