Volunteers needed in Hopland. The Hopland Fire District. The district has put up signs along Highway 101 and near the Feliz Creek station asking people to consider signing on with an organization that must be ready for the call, 24/7, 365. Chief Mitch Franklin tells the Ukiah Daily News that volunteers are the backbone of the department and that without them, the community it serves is at risk. Many rural areas face the same problem- more calls, with fewer people willing to step up. There are 10 volunteers now for the FD, along with 3 paid members. They are busy too–350 calls a year in an area stretching across 110 square miles of Lake County. Ideally, the chief is hoping to add another 15 volunteers to cover not only the Hopland district, but to help out neighboring departments with Mutual Aid agreements. He says he’d welcome calls from anybody who wants to learn more about getting involved with a vital community service.