LT. Governor Husted Visits Roseville to Discuss Fire Fighter Tasks Force

ROSEVILLE, Ohio – Lt. Gov. Husted joined a round table discussion this afternoon at the Roseville Fire Department.

The number of volunteer firefighters is decreasing, yet the need for workers is seemingly increasing.

The average age of a volunteer firefighter is 57, with many approaching retirement.

Micheal Bell, a Roseville Fire Department Volunteer, says that the younger generation usually would be helping, but the training makes it hard.

“The state has mandated more training, which is deterring people to become a volunteer. Most people think you can just join the fire department and you’re just a volunteer. But when we have to explain to them the training and amount of hours you have to put go through even before you’re on the department, thats whats deterring people,” Bell told us.

Typically only 1 to 2 people are on the truck to fight a fire, with other departments being 15-20 minutes away.

Lt. Governor Jon Husted said that the roundtable will hopefully serve as one of the beginning steps to solving this issue.

“We’re listening to what they’re telling us, about what they need, how we can knock down barriers, how we can provide resources, how we can improve this process in Ohio. That’s what governing and life is, it’s about getting better every day, this is something that’s important and we want to find out how to make it better,” the Lt. Governor said.

More than 20 members of community leaders from all across Ohio are helping with a task force.

Governor Mike Dewine announced the formation of the ‘Ohio Task Force on Volunteer Fire Service’ on April 14th.