Michigan's Largest Unpaid Fire Department Needs Recruits: Can Troy's Volunteer Model Sustain a City of 80,000?

Troy is asking 20 to 25 residents to train for fires, medical emergencies and hazardous incidents without a paycheck, joining a volunteer force of about 135 people described as Michigan's largest unpaid firefighting force. The recruitment drive comes as Troy's estimated 2026 population reaches approximately 89,000, making it the largest community in Oakland County. For the people who depend on a fire engine arriving when they call 911, the question is whether a city of Troy's size and economic health should continue to rely on unpaid labor for a core public-safety function.

The department operates as a combination force with 13 paid career staff members alongside the 135 volunteers, spread across six stations. Troy's reliance on unpaid volunteers stands in contrast to most cities of its size, which typically maintain fully paid professional fire departments.

Recruits must complete Firefighter I and II academy training—the same rigorous program required of full-time firefighters elsewhere—fully funded by the City of Troy. Volunteers must also attend a minimum of 80 hours of training annually and respond to fires, medical emergencies and hazardous-materials incidents, performing the same dangerous work as paid firefighters in other communities.

The need for 20 to 25 additional members represents an increase of roughly 15 to 19 percent over the current force. Volunteers must balance that training and emergency response with full-time jobs and family obligations. Modern incidents increasingly demand professional-grade skills on complex hazards, including lithium-ion battery fires—one of which recently ignited inside a Troy garbage truck after a discarded electric scooter battery caught fire, prompting the department to remind residents that such batteries must be taken to approved recycling or hazardous-waste facilities rather than thrown in the trash. With only 13 paid career staff supporting the volunteer force across six stations, any shortfall in recruitment or retention could strain response capacity citywide.

City officials have not publicly addressed why Troy continues to rely on unpaid volunteers or whether the city has considered transitioning to a more robust paid force. Residents can learn more about volunteer firefighter requirements and apply through the Troy Fire Department's official recruitment channels. The recruitment drive will test whether Troy can continue to find enough residents willing to perform dangerous, technical public-safety work without compensation—or whether a city approaching 90,000 will need to reconsider its reliance on civic goodwill.