“There’s nothing more frustrating […] that as a fire brigade you have to say: we cannot go on the road, because there are too few people,” says commander Mark Hinderks. He adds: “Every time we don’t go on the road, we really feel bad about it.”
The force regularly recruits new volunteers, who must first complete a two-year training course before they can be fully deployed. Yet more people are also saying goodbye, and they are not necessarily the old guard.
Maximum travel time of five minutes to the barracks
“Many young people trained by the fire brigade leave the region because they cannot find affordable housing in the area,” says Kooman. Indeed, anyone who wants to become a fire brigade volunteer in Halfweg-Zwanenburg must live within a maximum of five minutes’ travel time from the fire station.
The municipality also recognizes the risks of the increasing volunteer shortage therefore steps in. All residents of Halfweg and Zwanenburg over the age of 18 will therefore soon receive a letter asking them to consider whether a volunteer position in the fire brigade suits them.
Information evening
Such a letter was also distributed in Zandvoort last year, and resulted in four new registrations. The fire brigade hopes that this method also works in Halfweg and Zwanenburg. Anyone who wants to know more is welcome at the barracks at Beatrixstraat 2 in Halfweg on Wednesday, January 30. The information evening starts at 7 p.m.