Communities depend on them in times of tragedy, and volunteer firefighters and other responders face increasing difficulties.
This week, a Pennsylvania Senate debate looked at the recurring problem of finding and keeping emergency responders, as well as the costs associated with ensuring they have the right equipment.
According to Jamie Rohrer, fire chief for the East Petersburg Fire Co. in Lancaster County, “the days of asking all our volunteers to go out and fundraise and do chicken barbecues and make $1,000 are over.” individuals desire to spend time with their families, their neighborhood, and other individuals.
State Senator Nick Miller hosted a roundtable of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee on Wednesday in Ephrata, Lancaster. Among the solutions discussed were granting tax breaks to employers who allow employees to respond to emergency calls while they are on duty and facilitating equipment sharing among emergency response departments.
Miller, a Democrat from Lehigh/Northampton, is a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 951, which is sponsored by state senator Frank Farry, a Republican from Bucks, and would allocate funds to community colleges for the training of emergency medical technicians, police officers, firefighters, and other emergency services.
Miller, who was chosen as the Senate Democratic Caucus’ policy chairman in December, stated that there is no magic solution to this problem. We truly need to invest a great deal of time and resources in solving this problem because—pun intended—it is an emergency in our communities.
It’s not just volunteers who have to worry about finding enough personnel to deal with crises. Police stations are only receiving a small number of applications for available positions, according to state senator Jay Costa, a Democrat from Allegheny.
“That’s concerning,” he stated. Additionally, I believe it makes it more considerate and suitable for people who choose to participate in law enforcement and our emergency response activities.
According to Northern Lancaster County Regional cops Chief Josh Kilgore, part of that entails correcting the belief that cops are villains rather than the heroes that young children aspire to be, which has been established over the course of the last ten or so years.
He cited initiatives such as the Pennsylvania State Police Camp Cadet as crucial in encouraging young people to become future emergency service responders.
Although initiatives like Camp Cadet are fantastic, why do children desire to attend the camps? “Kilgore said.” Are they interested in attending? Thus, you must generate that desire. The beginning is at home. It begins with the parents, who must sow the first seed. First responders can occasionally fill that position because not everyone is fortunate enough to have it, and events like Camp Cadet provide an opportunity to do so.
Emergency response agencies must meet tomorrow’s responders where they are today, according to Ephrata Police Chief Chris McKim. He requested state funding for a social media and entertainment-streaming service recruitment effort, including TikTok, Spotify, and Hulu.
“They’re not looking at billboards,” he added, adding that young people aren’t interested in Facebook or television. Thus, proceed to their location. I would really like to be able to snap my fingers.
John Kottmyer, the fire chief for East Hempfield, reiterated the sentiment that trying to recruit using the same methods from decades ago isn’t working.
He added that he has had a conversation with some of the live-in recruits who reside at his station and that it’s a completely different avenue: I stated unequivocally that I wanted an open discussion, so please be extremely direct with me. I asked, “What would it take to keep you here for five years, like, really keep you here in this area?” And several of them said, “Money,” with great candor. They claimed that even though I was attending college, I still had to pay for petrol, auto insurance, and other expenses.
Collaboration is one idea put out to increase funding for public safety. This includes sharing equipment across municipal lines, such as a ladder truck, which may have cost $500,000 ten years ago but is now worth $2 million, according to Jerry Ozog, the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors’ public safety specialist.
“There will be a lot of volunteer fire departments that will never be able to buy a new car again,” he said. Additionally, they will need to collaborate with other groups and rely on extending the life of their cars. However, the ability to sit down and work together is basically what will need to happen, regardless of how it looks—multiple towns working together.
Act 172 of 2016, which permits communities to offer a real estate or earned income tax credit to active members of volunteer fire companies and nonprofit emergency medical service agencies, was passed by Pennsylvania lawmakers, according to Ozog.
According to Rohrer, the chief of the East Petersburg Fire Co., additional tax credits could enable those who wish to volunteer but still have to work full-time make ends meet.
What about state tax credits for companies who, you know, fire their employees? He inquired. As a business owner, I can tell you that if our employees volunteer, we give them a break and give them money.
According to Darryl Keiser, the chief of Garden Spot Fire Rescue in New Holland, Lancaster County, he knows of companies that will reimburse their employees for the first hour of responding to an emergency call. That may be sufficient time to address some of the 600 calls his department receives annually that are annoyances rather than emergencies but still need to be handled.
For his actions, does he receive any tax breaks or something similar? “No,” Keiser answered. Perhaps the state’s and the municipalities’ encouragement would be beneficial.
Aside from financial limitations, the officials emphasized that being a first responder is a physically and mentally taxing job. Kilgore, the regional police chief, stated that in order to ensure that you are prepared for duty, you must not only mentally prepare yourself for what you must accomplish but also put in the necessary hours outside of work.
They must get up in the morning, go to work, and decide whether they are prepared to risk their lives by running into the burning building, into the gunfire, or into the school where there is an active shooter, he said. They carry it out daily. You need to be able to overcome some of the risks in your mind in order to be good at that.
All of the public safety representatives who spoke on Wednesday agreed that first responders require mental health treatment.
State Fire Commissioner Thomas Cook stated that there is no longer any doubt that it must take place, adding that there is a chance to observe what is successful in many departments to help those who are having difficulty and that recruitment is a very diversified challenge.
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You can contact Kurt Bresswein at [email protected].
