Fire Training Change

Firefighter Training Is Changing in Ohio — What That Means for Rural Communities

Most people don’t think about firefighter training until they need a fire department. But right now, Ohio is debating changes that could affect how many firefighters are available in rural areas and how fast help arrives when someone calls 911.

This article explains what is being discussed, why it matters, and what residents should know.

What Is Being Proposed

Ohio currently allows volunteer firefighters to be trained under a 36-hour entry-level program. This has been used for decades to help small towns and rural fire departments bring new people into service quickly.

A new proposal would phase out that 36-hour option and require new firefighters to complete Firefighter I or Firefighter II training instead. These programs usually take hundreds of hours, not dozens.

A related bill, Senate Bill 195, is now in committee in the Ohio Senate and includes several changes affecting volunteer fire departments and volunteer firefighters, including benefits and training support. You can view the bill here:Senate Bill 195 (2025-2026) as https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/sb195.

At the same time, Ohio fire training committees have approved a plan that would end the 36-hour certification statewide by June 30, 2030 and move all new firefighters into higher training tracks.

Why Ohio Is Looking at This

The goal is simple and reasonable: Ohio wants firefighters to have stronger and more consistent training so they can work more safely and effectively.

Firefighter I and II follow national standards and cover things like:

• Live fire training

• Search and rescue

• Advanced safety skills

• Equipment use and tactics

No one disputes that better training is a good thing.

Why Rural Departments Are Paying Close Attention

In cities, fire departments have full-time crews who train during work hours. Rural areas are different. Most firefighters here are volunteers. They have jobs, farms, families, and long drives to training sites.

The 36-hour program has worked because it lets people:

• Join their local department

• Get trained quickly

• Start helping their neighbors

• Then take more classes over time if they choose

Firefighter I or II takes months, not weeks. That is a much bigger commitment.

This creates a real concern for rural departments:

• Fewer people may be able to sign up

• Training may take longer to finish

• Some stations may have fewer fully trained firefighters on each call

Volunteer firefighter recruitment is at its lowest point in generations — and rural communities are running out of people to answer the call.

Local analysis shows that, without extra funding or new training options, rural areas could see 30–50% fewer new firefighters over time. By the mid-2030s, some departments may have only one or two interior-qualified firefighters on a shift — or sometimes none at all.

That does not mean fire departments disappear. It means more situations where:

• Crews must wait for help from other towns

• Fires grow larger before being attacked

• Insurance and property loss risks increase

What Happens in 2030

Under the current plan:

• The 36-hour certification ends on June 30, 2030

• No new firefighters can be trained under that model

• Expired 36-hour certifications cannot be renewed

• New firefighters must complete Firefighter I or II or serve in exterior-only roles (traffic control, water supply, rehab, support)

This creates two types of departments:

• Those with Firefighter I/II crews who can go inside burning buildings

• Those who can only work outside and wait for help

Rural fire departments aren’t short on courage — they’re short on people.

What This Is — and What It Is Not

This is not about lowering safety standards. Higher training levels make firefighters safer.

This is about how rural fire protection is delivered and whether communities can staff their departments under the new rules.

What Can Residents Do

If you live in a rural area and care about your local fire department:

• Talk to your local fire district or fire chief

• Ask how this change could affect staffing

• Ask whether they can support Firefighter I/II training for volunteers

• Share concerns or support through your local department

Fire departments are closest to this issue. They know their people, their budgets, and their response times better than anyone.

Bottom Line

Ohio is trying to improve firefighter training statewide. That is a good goal. But for rural communities, how this is done matters just as much as the goal itself.

The next few years will decide whether small-town fire departments can keep enough trained firefighters on the trucks — or whether they will have to rely more and more on help from farther away.

When fewer neighbors volunteer, everyone waits longer for help.

Staying informed and talking with your local fire district now is the best way to make sure your community’s voice is heard.