BOTETOURT COUNTY, Va. - Like many volunteer fire departments across the country, Botetourt County is feeling the pinch of just getting people to show up.
That's why the county is putting out an all call for students for its first citizens' academy' and at this point they don't have as many sign-ups as they want.
These hands-on classes are not a new concept, but they're new for the growing county, and they're doing it with one goal in mind.
There's career EMS staff, but fire is nearly all-volunteer and that's whether people sign up or not.
The county also received a grant to produce a commercial on TV for recruitment purposes.