By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• Rural volunteer fire departments in Buchanan County, Missouri, are experiencing increasing emergency call volumes.
• Fire chiefs say fewer available responders and limited funding are straining resources.
• Roughly 70%–75% of Missouri fire departments rely on volunteers, according to research data.
• Local crews are adjusting personal schedules to meet demand, highlighting community service commitments.
BUCHANAN COUNTY, MO — Volunteer fire departments in rural Buchanan County report increasing emergency call volumes and challenges in maintaining adequate staffing as community demands grow.
South Buchannan County Fire Protection District/Facebook
Fire officials said some volunteers have to interrupt personal activities, including family time and regular employment, to respond to emergencies ranging from medical calls to brush and wildland fires across service areas southwest of St. Joseph.
Approximately 70% to 75% of Missouri’s fire departments are staffed by volunteers, and local leaders said the combination of higher call frequency, population changes and busy personal schedules is placing additional pressure on limited volunteer rosters.
Chiefs from multiple rural districts noted that recruitment and retention of volunteers remain ongoing concerns, with constrained funding and competing personal commitments cited as key factors affecting member availability.
Department leaders said they are striving to meet the evolving needs of their communities while balancing response capabilities and volunteer resources, but did not provide specific timelines for addressing staffing gaps.