A volunteer shortage, combined with increasing mandates and stringent budgets, are forcing the hand of many local volunteer-based fire departments to re-evaluate their operations and, for some, consider closing. (Photo by Zachary Meseck)

CHENANGO COUNTY – Fire departments across the county are hurting on a number of fronts, local fire officials warn, and it’s forcing some to make tough decisions – in some cases, even considering ceasing operations.

Local departments are struggling for various reasons, according to Matthew Beckwith, fire coordinator for the Chenango County Office of Emergency Services. At a recent meeting of the county’s safety and rules committee, Beckwith laid out some of these struggles for county officials.

Many departments are having a harder time operating with a small budget and they lack the manpower to handle calls, said Beckwith. While some are fortunate to have a sturdy base of volunteers, other departments, especially small ones like Brisben and McDonough, bear a heavy burden. The Brisben Fire Department is facing a real possibility of closing, he said, which would leave neighboring departments of Greene and Oxford to cover its area. The McDonough Fire Department could follow suit or possibly merge with its neighboring department in Pharsalia.

Meanwhile departments like Greene – one of the largest fire departments in the county – are requesting mutual aid for every call in their district because they don’t have volunteer manpower, Beckwith said. Likewise, Sherburne’s fire department can provide only one engine or ladder truck during daytime calls because most of its volunteers have day jobs.