PIERCE, Neb. -- There are 449 volunteer fire departments in the state of Nebraska with over 15,000 men and women who sacrifice their time to serve in their communities. 

"Everyone of us leaves our families and our homes and no matter what we're doing at any given point and we respond to those calls,” said Pierce Fire Chief Steve Dolesh. 

Dolesh said that all 89 members of his department are volunteers who are paged out to calls during their day as they do not live at the station.

Firefighters in the department also dedicate more of their time to monthly training on various topics to become more knowledge-equipped in the field.  

Despite the lack of funds, he said their community helps them stay afloat.  

"And you have to have that in a small town,” Dolesh said. “There's no way you can survive, because our budgets are so small and a lot of the equipment that we purchase is done by donations." 

Dolesh said they work with Heartland Fire Protection to stay updated with their equipment. 

This can help with costs as Heartland COO Chance Buss said their services on equipment such as SCBA cylinders can save them money. 

"On the low end around 50 to 60 percent. sometimes higher than that depending upon what bottles they have and what size they are,” Buss said. 

The work done with cylinders can extend their 15-year life spans up to another 15 years, saving departments thousands of dollars. 

Buss said that helping volunteer departments is necessary.   

"Though it's important for us to support those guys in any way we can you know,” Buss said. 

Dolesh encourages anyone who wants to serve their communities to join as smaller towns struggle to staff their departments.  

"If you get involved with it, you put some time into it, you will find out that it is one of the best things you could ever do in your life as far as the community service is concerned," Dolesh said.