1. Volunteer Fire Service in PA Facts, Myths, Complaints, and Innovative Solutions

2. Facts: Volunteers Decrease in # of volunteer firefighters
300,000 in 1970s
70,000 in 1990s
PA State Fire Commissioner Edward A. Mann estimates about 50,000 volunteer today
2,400 fire departments across PA’s 67 counties

3. Facts: Local Government
Municipal governments responsible for fire protection & emergency medical services (EMS)
Volunteer fire services save local governments about $6 billion in avoided costs
Estimated hourly value of PA volunteer firefighter is $20.51

4. Facts: Funding
PA Volunteer Firefighter Relief Association Program and Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Program
Programs provide $150 million a year to volunteer fire service

5. Myths and Misconceptions
Myth: Local services tax funds fire departments
Myth: State training requirements hinder recruiting efforts
Myth: Volunteer fire departments are in great financial health

6. Myths and Misconceptions
Reality: Volunteer fire departments do not receive any local service tax revenue
Reality: Pennsylvania does not require any level of training for state firefighters
Reality: Many volunteer fire departments face dire financial circumstances. Local governments must create career fire departments if they lose volunteer service.

7. Complaints and Concerns
Fundraising requirements
Dissatisfaction with time spent on fundraising (chicken barbecues, bingo games, etc.)
Firehouse politics
Bureaucratic red tape (4 month process to replace a lost glove in Montgomery County, PA)
Both cited as main reasons for leaving departments

8. Innovative Solutions

9. Retention Exit surveys to determine why people are leaving
Example: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Fire department reduced bureaucratic red tape after exit surveys frequently cited it as reason for leaving

10. Recruitment: Without Legislation
Shorten application
Quick and personal follow up with applicants
Establish Citizen’s Fire Academy
Market to “millennial” generation
Diverse and tech-savvy demographic group
Value: recognition, little bureaucracy, friendly work environments

11. Retention and Recruitment: Without Legislation
Selective paging reduces # of volunteers for unnecessary runs
Climate & exit surveys to assess retention needs
Highlands Emergency Services Alliance
EMS and firefighting training to high school students during school
Essentials of Fire Fighting and Emergency Response certification
Many later serve as junior firefighters

12. Training: Without Legislation
Online training options
O’Hara Township
Points-based gift card incentive system
Awarded points for tasks such as training and EMS shifts
Customize training to dept & community needs
Montgomery County, Virginia
County-wide Volunteer Orientation teaches basics of firefighting & emergency response

13. Community Relations: Without Legislation
Build strong relationships
Work with local elected officials & community groups
Department tours, better communication, etc
Reach out to community for non-firefighting jobs
fundraising, financial reports, administrative, etc

14. Recruitment: With Legislation
Create incentives for different age groups
Younger: Tuition breaks
Middle-age: Student loan forgiveness
Older: Length of service awards or retiree stipends

15. Recruitment: Expand FireVEST
Allegheny County Scholarship for volunteer firefighters
65-credit Associate’s Degree at Community College of Allegheny County
Covers tuition, fees, & books
Must meet minimum 2.00 GPA
Must commit to 5 years of fire service
FireVEST scholars represent 60 Allegheny County companies and 14 CCAC academic programs
60% current participants have GPAs above 3.0

16. Recruitment and Retention: With Legislation
Implement recommendations in Senate Resolution 60 report
Tax and insurance incentives for volunteer firefighters
local income tax breaks
forgiveness of local fire tax
state income tax breaks
municipal group medical insurance rates
state grant programs
local matches for Length of Service Award Programs
Albemarle County, Virginia
Funds incentives and cost recovery so volunteers don’t spend money to volunteer.

17. Training: with Legislation
Tax foreign fire insurance to fund volunteer training
Albemarle County, Virginia
County funds volunteer leadership and management programs

18. Community Relations: with Legislation
Establish state-funded regional support network
Help with technology, administration, accounting, time consuming projects
Restructure Volunteer Loan Assistance Program

19. Planning for the Future
What can we do?
As citizens…
As volunteers…
As elected officials…
How can we help?