State report says Pennsylvania's fire and rescue services are in a crisis
There was a time in the 1970s when the Unionville Fire Department was forced to stop accepting new members.
With roster spots in such high demand, the department could not afford to purchase gear for everyone, according to Chief Nathan Wulff, and had to limit the number of volunteers.
It's a far cry from the interest and numbers Unionville and departments across the state are seeing today.
“We're still surviving, but we're not where we want to be,” he said.
Pennsylvania's fire and rescue services are in a crisis “right now,” according to a report released this week. However, recommended solutions to solving that ever-worsening problem are already being done in Butler County, according to fire and EMS officials.
The 104-page report commissioned by the state legislature indicates that as funding decreases, so do the number of volunteers.
It also found issues with training those who are interested in serving. The report was created with input from the 39 members on the Senate Resolution 6 Committee. Jeff Gooch, fire risk and reduction coordinator for the Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Department, is listed in the report as one of eight fire or emergency medical services members at large.
The report wastes no time getting to the heart of the matter, pointing out that emergency services are “woefully lacking” in funding. It indicates similar issues were found in a 2004 study, and that the state's failure to take action has made the problem worse. Additionally, reimbursements and other financial supports have continued to decline, which the report indicates will take a commitment from local and state legislators to fix.
Read the full report in Sunday's Butler Eagle.
