The shortage of volunteer firefighters – according to state lawmakers and fire officials – is a crisis. At a statehouse news conference Monday, the group said 85 percent of Illinois is covered by volunteer crews, whose numbers can be sparse.

“Cahokia Heights had a fire a few months ago,” said State Sen. Christopher Belt (D-Swansea). “One firefighter – volunteer – responded. He drove the truck there, and he fought the fire. One man. Until other surrounding fire departments got there, and there was a fatality in that fire.”

The I-55 pile-up last week was in the district of State Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield), who said the multiple-fatality tragedy illustrates the need for more volunteer firefighters, as the volunteers cover most of the state’s interstate system.

The news conference was not only to honor the I-55 responders, but also to spotlight a proposal for a $500 tax credit for volunteer firefighters.