Sound the Alarm /sound-the-alarm Seventy percent of Ohio is served by volunteer firefighters, but these departments are finding it increasingly difficult to find the funding and manpower to protect their communities. What is their path forward? en-US Copyright Thu, 15 Jan 2026 23:51:05 GMT Looking forward: Will Ohio's volunteer fire departments survive? /2026-01-15/looking-forward-will-ohios-volunteer-fire-departments-survive The majority of Ohio's volunteer fire departments are staffed by volunteers. While the number of volunteers is decreasing, the number of calls those departments have to respond to is increasing. Thu, 15 Jan 2026 23:51:05 GMT /2026-01-15/looking-forward-will-ohios-volunteer-fire-departments-survive Abigail Bottar, ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ The generations of volunteer firefighters who keep our communities safe /reporters-notebook/2026-01-15/the-generations-of-volunteer-firefighters-who-keep-our-communities-safe This week, we've been exploring the problems plaguing Ohio's volunteer firefighter system in our series "Sound the Alarm." Many of the state's volunteer firefighters follow a family member into service and continue passing down a culture of volunteerism. Thu, 15 Jan 2026 15:00:00 GMT /reporters-notebook/2026-01-15/the-generations-of-volunteer-firefighters-who-keep-our-communities-safe Abigail Bottar ‘If we don’t do it, who’s going to?’ The hidden cost of Ohio’s volunteer firefighter shortage /2026-01-14/if-we-dont-do-it-whos-going-to-the-hidden-cost-of-ohios-volunteer-firefighter-shortage Ohio’s volunteer firefighting system depends on the sacrifice of aging, underpaid and overworked Ohioans who serve their communities out of pride. Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:28:00 GMT /2026-01-14/if-we-dont-do-it-whos-going-to-the-hidden-cost-of-ohios-volunteer-firefighter-shortage Kendall Crawford Mounting problems: Ohio's volunteer firefighters often face bigger fires with less training /2026-01-13/mounting-problems-ohios-volunteer-firefighters-often-face-bigger-fires-with-less-training When many Ohioans call 911, the people who show up to help in their darkest hours are volunteers, armed with as little as 36 hours of training and often tasked with fighting bigger fires with fewer people than career departments. Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:27:00 GMT /2026-01-13/mounting-problems-ohios-volunteer-firefighters-often-face-bigger-fires-with-less-training Abigail Bottar, ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ A tale of 2 volunteer fire departments: What money means when lives are on the line /2026-01-12/a-tale-of-2-volunteer-fire-departments-what-money-means-when-lives-are-on-the-line Ohio volunteer fire departments are funded through local levies. That forces small rural communities to rely on shoestring budgets to keep their communities safe. Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:19:00 GMT /2026-01-12/a-tale-of-2-volunteer-fire-departments-what-money-means-when-lives-are-on-the-line Kendall Crawford The roots of Ohio’s volunteer firefighting crisis go back centuries /2026-01-12/the-roots-of-ohios-volunteer-firefighting-crisis-go-back-centuries With increased service calls, decreased recruitment and higher fatalities than the rest of the country, Ohio officials are sounding the alarm on the volunteer firefighter crisis. Mon, 12 Jan 2026 09:12:00 GMT /2026-01-12/the-roots-of-ohios-volunteer-firefighting-crisis-go-back-centuries Abbey Marshall, ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Ohio's volunteer firefighters need help. Here's why we're sounding the alarm /reporters-notebook/2026-01-08/ohios-volunteer-firefighters-need-help-heres-why-were-sounding-the-alarm We've spent more than a year digging into the challenges facing Ohio's volunteer firefighters. What we found affects much more of the state than you might think. "Sound the Alarm: Ohio's Volunteer Firefighter Crisis" will appear on line and on the air on 89.7 WKSU beginning Monday. Thu, 08 Jan 2026 15:00:00 GMT /reporters-notebook/2026-01-08/ohios-volunteer-firefighters-need-help-heres-why-were-sounding-the-alarm Andrew Meyer