The NFPA Podcast: The Volunteer Crisis
February 24, 2026
Volunteer firefighters are the backbone of the U.S. emergency response system, but there has been a significant decline in the number of volunteers in the last 20 years. In this episode of The NFPA Podcast, host Jesse Roman and guests Joe Maruca of the NVFC and Ken Willette of the North American Fire Training Directors discuss why volunteers leave the fire service, how training impacts recruitment and retention, and how departments are adapting to their new reality. Listen here.
