On Friday, March 14th, 2008 the United
States Department of Homeland Security through the Federal
Emergency Management Agency awarded a grant to the Westwood
Fire Company to assist Chester County volunteer fire companies
recruit more personnel.
The grant, in the amount
of $445,000, is to be used for recruitment and retention of
firefighters.
Back in 2006, Assistant
Chief Sly developed the project on a Countywide level to aid
fire companies in the ongoing search for more volunteers.
All of the 47 fire companies in Chester County participated
in the program which was organized at the Chester County Fire
Chief's Meetings. Data, statistics, call volume, budgetary
information, and personnel rosters were obtained from each
station to determine a needs assessment.
From the statistics
compiled, there are currently 1,514 volunteer firefighters
in Chester County. Fifteen years ago there were more than
1,800. Statewide, in the mid 1970's the estimated number was
300,000 firefighters, in the late 1990's the estimate was
70,000. Today, that number has dropped to between 50,000 and
60,000. Additionally, there are only 64 paid firefighters
in Chester County, and no fire companies or departments rely
solely on career personnel.
After months of preparation
obtaining statistical information about each fire company
in the County, Chief Sly wrote and submitted the application
to FEMA's "SAFER" grant program last year. The SAFER
(Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) Grant
program was created to provide funding directly to fire departments
and volunteer firefighter interest organizations in order
to help them increase the number of trained, "front-line"
firefighters available in their communities.
According to Pennsylvania
State Fire Commissioner Ed Mann, volunteer firefighters save
approximately 6 billion dollars a year to Pennsylvania taxpayers.
In 2006, there were
16,439 fire and rescue emergencies in Chester County, and
there were 33,995 medical emergencies. Most Ambulance services
have been forced to pay crews during business hours due to
declining volunteerism and additional calls. Currently, in
Chester County, only the Westwood Fire Company Ambulance service
remains all volunteer, however all fire companies in the County
are still serviced by volunteer firefighters. Several have
a paid driver or firefighter on duty during the day, but volunteers
make up the bulk of the staff.
Funds from the grant
will go towards paying for media campaigns in local newspapers,
billboard advertisements, and a website where citizens can
locate their nearest fire department and obtain information
about how they can help.
Funding is also being
provided to make presentations in high schools throughout
the County to help recruit younger troops.
In order to meet state
and National standards, training is required for volunteer
firefighters. A major problem that continues is that in order
for someone to get the required training, they are giving
up their evenings and weekends, or losing wages by taking
off of work. The grant provides more than $300,000 in funds
to pay for lost wage reimbursement for new recruits joining
their local fire company. This incentive provides hope that
more people will sign up.
The main goal of this
grant is to make the public aware of the services the firefighters
provide to the citizens of Chester County, and spark interest
in people who want to give back to the community.
This is the fifth largest
grant ever awarded in the United States in the history of
the grant program for recruitment and retention of volunteer
firefighters.
An official Press Release
will be forthcoming from the Westwood Fire Company and the
Chester County Fire Chiefs Association. Any media inquires
are requested to be directed to Assistant Chief John Sly at
assistantchief@westwoodfire.com.
