CHENANGO COUNTY – Despite relentless recruiting efforts, local fire department are hurting for volunteers, and fire officials say it spells trouble for departments across the county.

Chenango County Fire Coordinator Matthew Beckwith recently discussed the volunteer shortage crisis with members of the county’s safety and rules committee, warning them that municipalities may face tough decisions unless more volunteers step up.

“It’s not just something that’s local. This is going on statewide,” Beckwith told the committee. “We have been in a very steady decline in the fire service. Our volunteer numbers are dwindling.”

Even in the City of Norwich, the largest fire department in the county, Fire Chief Jan Papelino has just 12-15 volunteers. At departments in small townships that rely entirely on volunteers, numbers are much worse.

Hurting most are local ambulance services, he added. Of the 21 fire departments in Chenango County, 11 include an ambulance service. Of those, only five he said provide “reliable service.”