With volunteer firefighters in demand, Horizon starts new stipend program

Of the more than a million firefighters in the United States, approximately 70-percent of them are volunteers.

ABC-7 has learned the number of volunteers is the lowest in a quarter century, leaving some Borderland departments hurting for firefighters.

That’s affecting volunteer fire departments like the one in Horizon City, which covers an area stretching more than 150 square miles and covering more than 66,000 residents.

“It’s way down and as a community we’ve recognized this for a while,” said Steve Hambric, Commissioner of Emergency Services for District 1.

Call volumes there have now topped more 2,000 a year, or six a day. That’s a far cry from the average of one a day back in the 1980’s.

“We’ve really been concerned about it because there are times when if we are on one call we may miss another call,” Hambric said. “It’s not acceptable.”

Emergency Services District No. 1 in Horizon City has been able to increase the number of volunteers with a new program. That program pays volunteer firefighters $25 for showing up for an 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. shift and $15 for each additional call.

“It used to be if the alarm went off, people would have to come from their homes, get the trucks and get out of here and get rolling,” Hambric said. “We may have as much as a seven minute delay, 10 minute delay. Now when that alarm goes off we have about a 30 second delay because they’re on that truck and out of here.”

Kris Menendez is a volunteer success story. As a kid he volunteered at ESD No. 1. He is now it’s Assistant Chief and a Captain in the El Paso Fire Department.

“I think volunteering is a great direction to go,” Menendez said. “It’s a huge stepping stone and it’ll help you throughout your career, not only when you start, but from beginning to end.”

Horizon City is building a new 24,500 square foot station, set to open this spring. Hambric and Menendez plan to expand the number of volunteers through their new stipend program.

“Once that station is done, we hope to provide a 12 hour shift during the day and 12 hour coverage during the night,” Menendez said.

Hambric and Menendez say there are fewer volunteers — in part — because of stricter standards and greater demands on families. If you’d like to volunteer, simply contact your local fire station through its non-emergency number.