In this week’s Post we feature a story about the declining number of volunteer firefighters in Kennebunkport, it’s an issue that affects many small towns in Maine and throughout the country.
    The average age of Kennebunkport’s volunteer force is about 45-years-old, meaning retirement will come quickly for some, leaving the fire department with a dwindling membership.
    The fire department simply needs more young people. Who can say why more young people are not volunteering for these jobs. Is it a lack of a sense of community? Perhaps it’s the lack of high paying jobs available for them, and therefore they can’t afford to spend the time to perform a volunteer job, albeit a very important job.
    Kennebunkport also isn’t the most economical place for a young person to settle down, so the overall population could be a factor in this issue.
    What ever the reason might be, they still need some new bodies. Sometimes it’s difficult to grasp all that a volunteer force does for the community if you have never been in a situation where you need their help. For those who have experienced a fire or flooding issues, we’re sure you are grateful to them.
    Another point to think about is that if the town fails to find new members, they could have to start hiring them, which would mean higher taxes for residents.
    Members of Kennebunkport’s Fire Department will be working on recruiting new members and we encourage community members to answer that call and perform a truly needed service to the town.