The volunteer fire service is facing a major problem: a lack of volunteers.

According to the state of New York, volunteer fire departments serve around 9 million people. In recent years, more than three-quarters of these departments have reported a decrease in the number of people willing to volunteer.

“We’re running 600 calls a year or more now, where years ago we were running 100 calls a year,” says Chief Peter Shaw of the Malta Ridge Fire Company.

Because of the shortage, many fire companies throughout the state must rely on mutual aid. That’s when fire stations respond to calls from neighboring departments to provide more firefighters when there aren’t enough.

“If we have to drive 10 or 15 minutes to get to someone else’s call to help them out … if their department was staffed twice as much as what they have, the response times could be that much quicker,” said Malta Ridge volunteer firefighter Zach Porter.

New York is in the process of establishing its first training stipend program for volunteer firefighters, up to $1,250. Stipend applications are submitted by fire chiefs, and students must be members of good standing in their department.