By the Numbers

823,350: Number of volunteer firefighters in the U.S.

72: Percent of total firefighters that are volunteers

21,575: Number of U.S. fire departments that are all volunteer

8: Percent decrease of firefighters in the U.S. since 1984

$26,559: Average cost in dollars to train and equip one firefighter

Source: National Volunteer Fire Council Fact Sheet 2007. www.nvfc.org