It's pretty common knowledge that volunteer fire departments are having a tough time recruiting and keeping members.

But in the small rural community of Webb Mills, just north of the Pennsylvania line in the town of Southport, the fire house is always full.

The Webbs Mills Volunteer Fire Department has almost 50 volunteer firefighters, along with 28 junior firefighters and an active ladies auxiliary, said Fire Chief Dan Storch.

It should be pointed out that while signs leading into the community say Webb Mills, the official name of the fire department is Webbs Mills with an S.

Five years ago, the Webbs Mills department had the same problems as other volunteer fire companies, Storch said.

"It's like a roller coaster. Every department has that," he said. "We've been pretty fortunate."

The department also has been pretty good in cultivating a new crop of future firefighters as well as fostering a family-oriented atmosphere that helps the Webbs Mills Fire Department keep members, Storch said.

One of the key reasons the department has flourished is the junior firefighter program.

The program was initiated by volunteer firefighter Jason Halm, in conjunction with Chemung County 4-H, when Halm was a member of the Southport Fire Department.

Halm transferred to Webbs Mills a few years ago and brought the program with him, although he said the junior firefighter program isn't limited to Webbs Mills or even to Chemung County.

"They've done such an outstanding job, other chapters are developing and coming online," Halm said.

"Even across the border, two departments over the Pennsylvania border are involved. Several departments in Steuben County are very interested. Our northern satellite is Millport. Wellsburg has five kids in our program. Southport has graduates."

The program has different age groups, Halm explained.

Children in the 10 to 12 age range are cadets, and they do some drills, march in parades and take part in fundraisers.

Youths between 12 and 16 are junior firefighters and they do more training on various aspects of firefighting and get more involved in the operation of the department.

At age 16, they can join the regular fire service.

Getting them interested early is key, Halm said.

"We try to make it interesting and build self-esteem. We're competing against Xbox and skateboarding," he said.

"This is still an avenue to get kids interested in a sense of community. We give them the respect they give us. It's twofold."

Youths have to keep their grades up in school to participate in the junior firefighter program, and parents often comment on how much their children are improving in school since they got involved in the fire service, Halm said.

Keeping volunteer firefighters on board, especially when they also have to deal with jobs, families and other life issues, is also essential, Storch said.

But Storch believes the Webbs Mills Volunteer Fire Department is successful doing just that because it works hard to make members feel like part of an extended family.

"We are not only a community-based fire department. We're always telling anybody that comes in to take care of family first, job and church before you do anything for us," Storch said.

"We want your mind free and clear of other distractions that could jeopardize us and you.

"I really feel it's because we involve the families that it affects people as accepting us as their brothers and sisters," he said.

"It's because of the deep friendships we have in the organization, we're able to keep people."

Any time you have an organization involving many people, there will be disputes, Storch said.

Throw in the stress, extensive training and 2 a.m. alarms, and life in the fire station can sometimes become volatile, as recent problems within the Big Flats Volunteer Fire Department point out.

But Storch believes his department has found the right balance to keep things running smoothly and keep everyone reasonably happy.

"We treat our members a little different than some departments do. They are volunteers and I can lead them, but they are volunteers," Storch said.

"If they don't want to do things my way, they have to leave because I am chief. But if everybody leaves, then I'm doing the job wrong.

"Do I need to change or do I need different people? That's what a lot of chiefs need to be asking themselves," he said.

"I'm not saying what I do is best, but it seems best for this department."

Star-Gazette 9/2/07