PORTLAND, Maine - Small towns throughout Maine are facing a shortage of trained firefighters and aging volunteer ranks.
The Portland Press Herald reportsthat the China Village Fire Department has only four volunteer firefighters trained to enter a burning building and its fire chief says he needs at least six to launch an interior attack.
Chief Shawn Howard, who heads the Madison and Skowhegan fire departments, says both have struggled in recent years to maintain a roster of 22 volunteer firefighters - in addition to eight who are full-time.
Howard said 30 years ago there were waiting lists for the volunteer ranks in both departments.
The Maine State Federation of Firefighters says 93 percent of Maine's fire departments are fully, or primarily, staffed by volunteers.