Morgantown Volunteer Fire Department starts department staffing program

MORGANTOWN, Ky. – Firefighting is one of the toughest jobs anyone could have, filled with danger and constantly putting another life ahead of your own.

However, across the country staffing shortages, and declining volunteer rates have hampered the firefighting profession. The Morgantown Volunteer Fire Department has come up with a method to try and halt this. The department staffing program was created to try and alleviate some of the pains of the growing needs of firefighters.

Much more goes on in the day to day life of a fire fighter beyond the calls. Vehicle upkeep, station upkeep, in house training exercises are all expected as well. And for a department that has seen its reliability increase, finding new faces to help is important.

“All the rest of the departments, including the Butler County Rescue Squad, we have we have mutual aid agreements with, and we’re helping them. So with that being said, you know, we have to actually go and assist them with whatever they may need, need assistance with. Other fire districts, the rescue squad, the ambulance service, you know, our call volume, is about in the medium range. I mean, we don’t have a low call volume. We don’t have a high call volume. But the reliability, of this, the fire department has has tripled,” said acting chief Luke Mooneyhan.

While the department helps with emergency services all over, it takes a special individual to step up when the community asks.

“We want people that have a heart for public service. We want people that have, can truly be devoted to talking to help their neighbor, you know, here at Morgantown Fire Department, as all fire departments do. You know, we we are dedicated to, to protecting life and then property in that order. And, and that’s that’s the overall thing. You know, we just we want people well-rounded, individuals from the community didn’t want to be here. They want to want to support that mission,” Mooneyhan said.

Those who participate in the program will also be rewarded as well. A point system has been set up for those participating. Volunteers can earn points based off of training and exercises participated in, calls answered and other duties performed.

If you would like to volunteer and join the program or have any questions, you can click here to reach them.