PHOTO BY BRENNA WHITE / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
FLORENCE TOWNSHIP AT EDON CAREER FAIR … The Florence Township firefighters joined the annual Edon Career Fair, highlighting the importance of volunteer firefighters in small communities.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The Florence Township Fire Department is continuing its efforts to raise awareness about the growing need for volunteer firefighters.
Members of the fire department, Cole Dietsch and James Wuebben, attended the Edon JH and HS Career Fair on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, where they engaged with students and showcased real equipment used in emergency responses.
Firefighter Dietsch shared that outreach events like the career fair play a critical role in addressing a broader, nationwide issue.
“The number of volunteers in the world is falling. The biggest thing is this, 75% of firefighters in the United States are made up of volunteers,” he said.
The reliance on volunteers has made recruitment increasingly urgent, particularly for smaller, rural departments.
Florence Township firefighters used the event as an opportunity not only to demonstrate their work, but also to connect with younger generations who may consider joining in the future.
“I feel like raising awareness of what we do and how we do things is the best part of the job.
“It helps kids understand that if they have an ambition to help people, to help someone on the worst day of their life, it can be the most rewarding,” Dietsch explained.
That need comes alongside the department’s own history of resilience. After a devastating fire on May 3, 2015, the Florence Fire Department had much of their equipment destroyed — causing an estimated $1.5 million in damages.
Since then, the department has rebuilt with the help of community support and assistance from neighboring departments.
“Florence Township has really bounced back since then,” Dietsch shared. “I’d like to say we are very thankful for what we have and for our community for helping us out.
“Especially with the outsiders – the City of Angola, we work with them a lot. We are very thankful to them for what they gave us.”
The City of Angola, who often works alongside the Florence Department with more eastern county structure fires, provided the department with an engine after the fire destroyed much of their fleet. A nearby department in Michigan also provided the crew with much-needed apparatus as well.
The department noted that conversations with students were positive. They stressed that increasing visibility and education about the role of volunteer firefighters is key to sustaining the services in communities like Florence Township.
As departments across Ohio and the country continue to face recruitment challenges, Florence Township firefighters say efforts like the Edon Career Fair are essential to keeping their services strong.
By connecting with students and sharing firsthand experiences, the department hopes to inspire a new generation to step forward — ensuring that when emergencies arise, there are still volunteers ready to answer the call.