Volunteerism is big on Vashon, where there are countless nonprofits that rely on donated labor and islanders frequently field requests to lend a hand. At Vashon’s fire department, volunteers play a different but vital role: they respond to medical emergencies and fires, saving lives, transporting people to the hospital and sometimes putting out fires. It’s a model that works, and on our small island, it means neighbors helping neighbors. For years, however, Vashon Island Fire & Rescue (VIFR) has needed more local volunteers. And there’s no question that more people should step up — it’s clearly an important cause. But VIFR should also take a page from local nonprofits and consider boosting its outreach efforts.

It has long been known that staff at Vashon Island Fire & Rescue work hard but can be stretched thin. Responders can typically handle a first and second emergency call. But when calls come in clusters, as they sometimes do, a third medical emergency in a row can be challenging to handle. Ferry transports take staff away and also make it tough to respond, as do larger fires.

So far, VIFR officials haven’t felt that hiring additional staff is necessary. And doing so would likely mean raising taxes, something residents might not support. Expanding VIFR’s volunteer force, however, would assure that every call on Vashon gets a good response in a reasonable amount of time.

Vashon’s department isn’t alone in its struggle to find and keep volunteers. Across the country, the number of volunteer firefighters has dwindled. On our island, the large number of commuters and two-income households, as well as the aging population, may contribute to a shrinking volunteer pool. And because of changes made to improve VIFR’s volunteer system, volunteer staff are now asked to do more than they used to.

Indeed, volunteering for VIFR, whether as an EMT, firefighter or both, is a big job that requires training and a significant time commitment. Not everyone can do it, and not everyone is cut out for it. But the station would likely reach more potential volunteers if it explored more ways to get the word out. The Beachcomber, for instance, didn’t hear about the need for volunteers through an event, a press release or a prominent note on VFIR’s website. We called and asked, an inquiry that led to this week’s front-page story. The paper wrote about this issue in 2010, as well, but the need is still there. VIFR officials say they’d like to increase their outreach on Vashon, and perhaps local groups such as VashonBePrepared could lend a hand.

VIFR is in the beginning stages of a strategic planning process to determine what level of service Vashon residents want and if changes should be made in order to provide more service. It’s quite possible one suggested change will be to grow the volunteer force. Such a request should be accompanied by a clear plan for reaching and recruiting islanders. Otherwise, our fire department will find itself in the same place in another five years.