Halesite Fire Department gets 9 new members

Nine new members have joined the ranks of the Halesite Fire Department, after the department conducted an extensive recruitment campaign this summer.

The volunteer department had turned to mass mailings and even Twitter and Facebook in an effort to swell its ranks, after the number of members dropped to 60 — the lowest point since 1985.

Members were also aging, which was of concern to department officials, who held two open house gatherings this summer to attract new recruits.

Eight new members were sworn in at the fire district’s September meeting, one at its August meeting, and First Assistant Chief Dan McConnell said that the department plans to swear in four additional recruits next month.