HANCEVILLE — In Hanceville and throughout Cullman County, interest in joining the ranks of volunteer fire fighters has diminished from a generation ago, leaving local leaders casting about for ways to entice new blood to continue the area’s grassroots tradition of public service.

The Hanceville city council discussed the topic at length at a regular Thursday meeting that featured a light agenda. Mayor Kenneth Nail said dwindling volunteer numbers is a problem that’s hit home recently, after two fully-involved structure fires in the span of less than 12 hours left the small staff on the city’s paid fire department reeling.

“I’m here to sound an alarm that this is a problem, and the problem is not just in Hanceville — it’s in all of Cullman County,” said Nail. “It is starting to be a public safety issue; a public safety emergency. Certainly the volunteers who do serve are putting in a lot of hours and doing the best they can — but they have jobs; have to put food on their table, and there are only so many of them.

“We have five volunteers here — five,” he added, noting that Hanceville volunteer fire fighters only receive compensation of $20 per call. “People won’t volunteer anymore, and I don’t have any answers. In a little town like Hanceville, we’ve got four full-time firemen. Well, if you have a major structure fire at the wrong time of day, it can quickly become a serious matter.”

Along with Nail, council member Jimmy Sawyer said hiring a handful of additional part-time fire fighter may be the only financially feasible option available to the city when the next budget year rolls around.

“Part time help may be the only answer,” Sawyer said. “When you look back to 20 years ago, you volunteered because you wanted to. Too, most of the volunteers lived here; most of them worked here.”

Lawsuits and liability concerns, said Nail, may deter some would-be volunteers from taking on high risk for little reward. “With lawsuits kind of being the mentality now, people don’t want to put themselves out there as much.”

The remarks, which came during the discussion portion of Thursday’s council meeting, will likely spur additional dialogue among council members ahead of planning for the 2020 city budget, which the council will take up in October.