Volunteers make up more than two-thirds of the nation's fire service and protect their communities from a wide range of emergencies. Yet many fire departments are having difficulty meeting the staffing needs that an all-hazards department requires. Call volumes have skyrocketed in recent years, tripling over the last three decades. At the same time, many fire service veterans are reaching retirement age, while there are fewer new recruits coming into the ranks. Department leaders are looking to recruit the next generation to fill the gap and step up to serve their community in a unique and rewarding way. A survey conducted by the National Volunteer Tire Council (NVFC), the national nonprofit association representing the volunteer fire and emergency services, found that 44 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 34 have an interest in volunteering as an emergency responder. A barrier to people taking action on this is awareness: the same survey found that 79 percent of people do not know if their department needs volunteers.