Geographically, Northeast Fire & Rescue is a large department. It’s roster, however, does not share the same trait.
With roughly 20 members on the roster and 10 who are active and respond regularly, covering an area stretching from Lauderdale to North Meridian, including a busy stretch of Highway 45, is no easy feat. Despite the challenge, department volunteers work diligently to answer emergency calls and serve their community.
Fire Chief Justin Jordan said he has been working hard to rebuild the department and grow its slate of volunteers. Currently, he said, all 10 active members are fire level one certified, and two are able to provide emergency medical care. Expanding both the number of volunteers and the capabilities of the department are a priority.
“It’s growing. I want to grow every day. I want to get more people in to help other people every day,” he said. “If you know anyone who feels the need to come out and help, come help.”
Like Lauderdale County’s other volunteer fire departments, Northeast organizes an annual fundraiser to bring in money to help with expenses and equipment purchases. Usually held in the spring, the department’s pancake breakfast brings the community out to eat hot pancakes, sausage and more.
“We don’t really ask for nothing, just donations if you want to donate,” he said.
While the department tries to plan the pancake breakfast around other community events, this year’s fundraiser coincided with the Wings Over Meridian air show at Naval Air Station Meridian. Despite the unintended conflict, Jordan said the event had a good turnout and the department is grateful for the community’s support.
“We didn’t know they were going to do the air show at the time,” he said.
Looking forward, Jordan said he is looking at other events the department could organize throughout the year as well.
“I’m trying to plan something else, something more during the year,” he said. “I’m trying to do more besides the pancake breakfast.”
Volunteer fire departments throughout the nation are finding it more and more difficult to recruit people in the community willing to put in the time and effort to do the job. According to the National Fire Protection Association, volunteers make up roughly 60% of America’s firefighters and provide fire protection to roughly half of the country’s population.
Despite making up the majority of firefighters, volunteer numbers have fallen from around 827,000 in 2008 to 635,000 in 2023, with roughly 12,000 volunteers leaving the fire service each year, NFPA research shows.
While numbers have declined, fire departments have seen call numbers go up, with firefighters responding to more and more emergency medical calls.
Jordan, who recently became fire chief for Marion Fire & Rescue as well, said it’s difficult to find people willing to do the job. As with Northeast, he said Marion is basically starting over from scratch, and it takes time to find local volunteers.
“That’s going to be the deciding factor, trying to get people to help out for free. You really can’t because everybody’s got jobs and life and it is rough,” he said. “But I’m looking. I go out every day looking for folks who want to help out.”