Of all the institutions that have declined in America, volunteer firefighting has most represented what is best in us, so its problems say the most about what we've lost in the way we live today:
Blame it on the changes in society: longer commutes, two-income households, year-round youth sports, chain stores that won't release workers at midday to jump on a firetruck. Blame it on new folks in town who don't even know the department is volunteer. Blame it on stricter training requirements and fewer big fires and the lure of paying fire jobs in the cities.
