The Times News asked local fire departments what they felt are the top 10 reasons they need support from the community.

Here are their responses:1 The community looks to the volunteer fire company for just about everything - flooding, trees down, wires down, blocked roads, shelters, flooded basements, odor investigations, crashes and more.2 Volunteer fire departments struggle just to keep their doors open because of how costly it is to maintain a functional fire company and all the apparatus.3 You could need them to save your home or maybe even your life at any given time.4 Without the community's support, volunteer fire departments stand alone. With your support they are a part of the community.5 Volunteer firefighters risk their lives every day and sacrifice personal time with their families to work fundraising events or respond to incidents to assist you whether they know you or not.6 Volunteer firefighters undergo extensive training, testing and evaluations on their own time to provide first-class service to the entire community.7 Volunteer firefighters work relentlessly to purchase and house the best firefighting equipment possible to serve you.8 Volunteer firefighters are your friends and neighbors and are interested in serving their community as a volunteer.9 Volunteer fire departments have always been the backbone of the community, and that needs to be preserved for all generations.10 It's simply the right thing to do.