Fill in the Blanks (Reading & Writing)

Volunteer fire brigades remain the backbone of emergency response in many rural areas, where a full-time service would be too costly to —maintainmaintenancemaintainingmaintained. Members typically hold regular jobs but must —respondresponseresponsiveresponding immediately whenever an alarm sounds. Training is rigorous, since volunteers face the same risks as —salariedsalarysalariessalarying firefighters yet often work with far —lessfewerlesserleast equipment.