Unlike city fire departments, rural fire departments rely heavily on volunteers to respond in case of emergency.

ASSUMPTION, Ill. (WAND) - Unlike city fire departments, rural fire departments rely heavily on volunteers to respond in case of emergency. That means local people are willing to be on call 24/7 om case a disaster strikes. 

"We are at our jobs or at home or doing whatever we're doing, and then 911 gets a call, they page it out, we receive that, and respond to the firehouse as soon as possible," said Assumption's Assistant Fire Chief David Hebert. "Almost everything we do, there's a life at stake." 

Hebert said most departments that rely on volunteers struggle to get enough people involved. It can be mentally taxing and require constant interruptions to your life. 

"Knowing that the volunteer numbers are struggling in different areas, I want to make sure Assumption doesn't have that problem," said Brady Sloan, a 5-year volunteer at the Assumption Fire Department. "If me or my family were in trouble, I want to be the type of firefighter that's going to come help them." 

It's not just residential fires. The volunteers respond to car accidents and incidents at businesses as well. When times get hard, the volunteers lean on each other. 

"With the job, you experience loss and different, negative things that come with it," said Sloan. "But that's why it's important to step up. We have a bond up here at the firehouse that another guy is going to pick you up if you're feeling down."

Many local departments are actively recruiting new volunteers. To volunteer, you must live within a specific township or village's limits. If you are interested in volunteering, you should reach out to your local fire department. 

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