DOVER, Del. – Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer has signed a package of bills aimed at strengthening support for the state’s volunteer firefighters and emergency responders, addressing declining ranks and rising emergency calls that threaten emergency response capacity.  This is critical to Delaware because we are unique. Delaware is the only U.S. state that relies on volunteer firefighters even in its capital city, Dover. Only Wilmington has a fully paid fire department. Without enough volunteers, response times could lengthen and communities could face serious safety risks.

Key Bills

• House Bill 171 updates the Delaware Volunteerism Act, allowing high school students to earn one elective credit and fulfill community service requirements by volunteering with local fire departments. Schools must notify students of the option during course selection.

• Senate Bill 28 provides a $7,000 funeral expense benefit for deceased members of volunteer fire companies, ladies’ auxiliaries, and volunteer ambulance or rescue companies. The benefit takes effect Oct. 1, 2025, and applies even if other state burial benefits are available.

• Senate Bill 86 expands the Delaware Volunteer Fire Service Revolving Loan Fund, now permitting donations from individuals, charitable groups, and counties.

• House Bill 124 increases the maximum fees the State Fire Marshal’s Office can charge to reflect rising service costs.

“Volunteer firefighters save lives every day,” Meyer said in a statement. “These bills are an investment in public safety, in teaching the next generation, and in the dedicated Delawareans who answer the call when we need them most.”

A Mounting Crisis

“Delaware’s volunteer fire stations are facing a serious recruitment and retention crisis and it’s has been building for more than a decade”, said Gordon Edwards III, Fire Chief of the Brandywine Hundred Fire Company No. 1 in North Wilmington, and a third-generation firefighter.    The challenge for Firefighters is changing:

• Shrinking Volunteer Numbers: Enrollment at the Delaware State Fire School dropped from 408 in 2009 to just 189 in 2019, a decline of more than 50 percent.

• Rising Emergency Calls: Over the past 30 years, emergency calls have tripled statewide, putting more pressure on fewer volunteers.

• Changing Lifestyles: Younger generations juggle school, work, and social demands, leaving less time for unpaid service. Many newcomers assume fire services are fully paid, and traditional family legacies of firefighting are fading.

• Economic Pressures: The rising cost of living makes it harder for people to commit time to volunteer roles that offer no financial compensation.

“Volunteering at your local fire station is more than fighting fires… it is the first step to helping protect the people in your community,” remarked Gordan. “We are looking for a wide variety of volunteers, not just firefighters. We have tasks for almost anyone, including helping to coordinate emergency responses, organizing community events and fundraisers, teaching fire safety at schools and community centers, and maintenance roles that will keep the equipment and vehicles ready for use.”