PITTSBURGH — Allegheny County is offering full scholarships at its community college to volunteer firefighters.

County officials say the initiative announced Thursday should give people an incentive to become volunteer firefighters.

The program will give full scholarships for an associate's degree or certificate program at the college. It also will offer training at the Allegheny County Fire Academy.

Of the 200 scholarships, 150 will go to new recruits who commit to five years' service as volunteer firefighters. The remaining 50 will go to existing volunteers for another five-year commitment.

There are 205 volunteer fire companies in the county.