There are not "5 fire depts" on the island.

Wildwood - There are not "5 fire depts" on the island. There are 9 stations. Years ago, the individual volunteer companies flourished with membership at a time when training was a basic, voluntary requirement and it was more of a social membership for business, community-minded people. It worked then, it doesn't now. Down-sizing is necessary and volunteers are in very short supply. It is just another change of the times. Yet the demand and need for service has expanded and is more complex. People and property still need protection. There is more to this issue than can be explained in a short spout.