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A crisis of their own

Tim Barch, left, and Sean Morrison, members of the Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Department, are two of the state's approximately 38,000 voluteer firefighters. That number is down from 300,000 in the 1970s.

There was a time in the 1970s when the Unionville Volunteer Fire Company was forced to stop accepting new members.

With roster spots in such high demand, the department could not afford to purchase gear for everyone, according to Chief Nathan Wulff, and had to limit the number of volunteers.

It's a far cry from the interest and numbers Unionville and departments across the state are seeing today.

“We're still surviving, but we're not where we want to be,” he said.

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