East Putnam, Connecticut — December 2 — To assist with emergency response and community operations, the East Putnam Fire Department, which is situated at 263 Providence Turnpike, is currently seeking new volunteers. According to department officials, increasing the number of personnel enhances overall preparedness and helps distribute the workload. As long as they can respond within an acceptable time frame, volunteers are not need to reside in the district. There are opportunities in EMS, firefighting, and non-operational support. Since the department offers all required training, no prior credentials are needed. To make sure they are fit for service, members must have an annual physical. Volunteers answer calls as their schedules permit, and training usually takes place on Tuesday nights. Connecticut's volunteer fire departments rely on community participation to provide dependable emergency responses.