McCook is blessed with a strong combination of paid and volunteers for fire and ambulance protection, but smaller communities in Nebraska and Kansas are struggling with a shortage of volunteers.

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According to the U.S. Fire Administration, volunteer fire and rescue personnel represent 72 percent of the nation's 1.1 million firefighters. More than 50 percent of volunteers are associated with departments that cover areas with populations of less than 2,500.

Between 1984 and 2006, the number of volunteers nationwide fell by 8 percent or nearly 74,000 according to information from the National Fire Protection Association quoted by The Associated Press.

The story by Nate Jenkins and Kelley Gillenwater cited increased family demands, employers who are less sympathetic toward community concerns and regulations that require volunteers to take up to 200 hours worth of training before they can start fighting fires.

Add EMT or paramedic qualification, and the commitment runs into thousands of hours and years of training -- more time and sacrifice that many qualified volunteers are willing to take.

Nebraska and Colorado passed laws this year barring employers from firing or disciplining employees who leave work to respond to emergencies, and legislation is pending in Congress to give volunteers greater tax exemptions for mileage and to help with fuel costs.

There are no incentives, however, as strong as the sense of duty that keeps small town fire and rescue volunteers answering the call.

For their dedication, we should all be grateful.

If you're an employer, please make it as easy as you can for your employee to help protect his or her community.

If' you're a potential volunteer, check with your local fire department to see how you might help.