COLUMBUS, Ohio — In an announcement at the Division of State Fire Marshal’s campus, Gov. Mike DeWine and other officials announced a statewide campaign meant to raise awareness on the need for volunteer firefighters.

“Many Ohio communities rely on volunteer firefighters to keep them and their families safe every day,” DeWine said in a press release about the announcement. “As volunteer numbers decrease, Ohioans are increasingly at risk, which is why it so important to spread awareness for Ohio’s need. We hope to encourage everyday Ohioans to become extraordinary heroes by serving their communities as volunteer firefighters.”

Spend some time watching TV or browsing the web, you’ll likely see these public service announcements appearing. There are two PSAs showing on TV throughout the state in addition to ads online.

In these PSAs, you’ll hear from Ohio volunteer firefighters. They’ll be speaking about why they made the choice to serve while also encouraging others to consider it.

This campaign was recommended by the Volunteer Fire Service Task Force, created by DeWine in 2022.

If you are interested, you can go to MakeMeAFirefighter.org to see positions and opportunities in your area. Across the state, there are almost 400 openings right now.

The release states that around 70% of departments in Ohio are volunteer. It also highlights a growing problem: emergency calls are increasing, even though volunteer firefighter staffs are decreasing.

“From 2018 to 2021, there was a 6.5% decrease in the number of volunteer firefighters; meanwhile, from 2018 to 2020, there was a 9% increase in calls,” the release reads.

This is a reflection of a national trend, it says, as calls in the U.S. have tripled in the last three and a half decades while volunteers hit a low in 2020.

“Many Ohioans underestimate or simply aren’t aware of the critical role that volunteer firefighters play in our daily lives,” said Ohio Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon in the release. “There is no question that volunteers are a key component in our ability to maintain a strong, robust and responsive fire service across the state. These are men and women who, despite working full-time jobs, have made the decision to step up and serve their communities and neighbors, often on what could be considered the worst days of their lives. The trend we’re seeing at this moment in Ohio is unsustainable, which is why now is the time for Ohioans to step up and become the hometown heroes our communities desperately need.”