Haddock details efforts to save volunteer firefighting

Lawmakers hear testimony on challenges facing firefighters, companies

Policy Committee    October 30, 2024 | 12:48 PM

OLD FORGE, Oct. 30 – Volunteer firefighting has changed dramatically in the last 50 years, and local companies are facing financial and logistical challenges to continue serving their communities. Officials and firefighters detailed their concerns, from decreased membership to an increase in calls, and asked the state to help find a solution to many of these challenges.

“I have the utmost respect for the men and women who willfully answer the call in the middle of the night to race into a dangerous situation to save the lives of complete strangers,” said Rep. Jim Haddock, who hosted the hearing and represents portions of Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. “If we cannot find a remedy to save our volunteer fire companies, our hometowns will be at a tremendous loss.”

Officials detailed a series of considerable challenges, including:

  • Increased time demands for training and fundraising for volunteers.
  • Skyrocketing costs for volunteers’ personal equipment.

  • Increased calls as well as an increase in the type of fires and emergencies.

Testifiers detailed how time commitments are limiting the number of residents who can volunteer. Jim Williams, who has been a member of Old Forge Fire Department since 1978, detailed how he took a 36-hour essential training course at the start of his career. Essential training has now increased by more than five times that amount to 188 hours, but local companies also still need volunteer firefighters to help fund raise to help offset the cost of personal fire equipment – creating a time crunch. Adding to the concern, calls requiring the fire department to respond have doubled.

“House Democrats led the charge and successfully passed a much-needed expansion of the state grant program for fire and EMS agencies,” said Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, who represents portions of Erie County. “However, the Republican-controlled Senate declined to agree on the measure.”  

Another troubling aspect is the variety of fires facing volunteer companies. Williams noted they are no longer just dumping water on fires. Firefighters need to know how to extinguish fires for electric cars, e-bikes, electric scooters and solar panels. Williams stated his company recently purchased fire blankets for electric car fires, but the county does not have policies in place nor the infrastructure – like a clear concrete pad to house electric vehicles after they have been tarped and the fire extinguished.

“A lot of things are happening quickly in the United States, and in the state of Pennsylvania, but it’s put us on the back burners,” Williams said.

Thomas Cook, the Pennsylvania Fire Commissioner, noted in the last eight months the commission has reduced 100 outstanding loans to zero over eight months. It has also experienced increased participation in grant funding, and it has decreased the number of grant applications that were started but not completed to 12 – a figure that typically includes 50 or more unfinished applications.

Wednesday’s House Majority Policy hearing featured testimony from Thomas Cook, Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner; Jim Williams, a firefighter from Old Forge Fire Department; Bob Aulisio, a firefighter from Old Forge Fire Department; Mike Lombardo, a paramedic and Vice President of Greater Pittston Regional Ambulance Association; Robert Timko, the Out of State Coordinator Assistant for the Firefighters Association of Pennsylvania; Brooks Stahlnecker, the founder of RIT First Responders Wellness Program; and Eric Frantz, an advisor for Danville High School Fire Club.