On Sunday, April 23, 60 volunteer fire departments throughout the state will celebrate the start of National Volunteer Week (April 23-29) by holding open houses.

Branford Fire Department (45 North Main Street) and North Branford Fire Department (Station 1: 1531 Foxon Road, Station 2: 1370 Middletown Avenue, and Station 3: 1958 Middletown Avenue) will be participating in this special event on April 23 by opening the doors to their fire houses from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Visitors to the fire houses will be able to talk with volunteer firefighters about the work they do, explore fire apparatus and turnout gear, get a tour of the fire house, and fill out an application. For more information, click here to reach Branford's webpage or here for North Branford's; or find the Departments on Facebook at Branford Fire Department and North Branford Fire Department.

More than 80 percent of all fire personnel in Connecticut are volunteers, and the majority of fire departments throughout the state are experiencing a volunteer shortage. Local fire departments need volunteers of all skill levels and abilities, people willing and able to respond to emergencies whenever called upon.

Volunteer Firefighter Day is part of Everyday Hero CT, a program dedicated to increasing the number of volunteer firefighters throughout the state. A partnership of the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association (CFCA) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the Everyday Hero CT campaign is a two-year Volunteer Workforce Solutions (VWS) initiative designed to address the shortage of volunteer firefighters in Connecticut. It is helping achieve a viable and sustainable volunteer firefighter workforce for fire departments throughout Connecticut. Everyday Hero CT is funded by a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant awarded to the CFCA by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop a model to enhance the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters.