Today there are more than one million firefighters in the United States. The tradition of volunteer firefighters, who outnumber the full-time employees, has been preserved from the past. The scope of firefighting has also expanded considerably. They include medics, rescuers, first responders for natural disasters and other accidents. Firefighters rescue people from flooded homes, clear streets after hurricanes and floods. And in case of any emergencies, citizens of the country call the number – 911.

In the United States, there are no federal laws governing fire departments. They are controlled at the local level.

The main unit is a unit that reports to and is funded by local municipalities.

The number of volunteers in a unit depends on state and local law. In small towns with less than 10,000 residents, fire departments may consist entirely of volunteers. There are mixed fire crews. Professional firefighters are almost always used for wildfires.

Volunteer fire departments are responsible for responding to fires, traffic accidents, and extreme weather conditions. Some units are also responsible for providing medical assistance and rescuing drowning victims.

In general, volunteers predominate in the fire department. Statistically, they make up three-quarters of the total number. Several factors account for this. In addition to the volunteer tradition, the commercial component plays a major role. Volunteer brigades significantly save the costs of municipal budgets.

At the same time, mandatory firefighting training and certification, introduced in the late 1990s for both volunteers and hired firefighters, practically erased the difference between them.