| After several years of low membership numbers, things are looking a little brighter for the Athens Volunteer Fire Department. In the last six months, 8 new members have joined the fire department. "It's a suprising turn of events when you look watch the national averages for volunteer firefighters drop year after year," said Captain Derek Belcher. "It's also a great outlook on our future in the county. The "old" guys aren't getting any younger and it has started to give the whole department a renewed since of pride," said Belcher. In the past, AVFD has relied heavily on recruitment among the college students, but the majority of the new members are just ordinary citizens stepping up to the call. |