Pennsylvania’s first responders struggle with staffing, prompting discussions on recruitment and resource consolidation to improve response capabilities.

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Public safety is top of mind for Pennsylvania leaders. However, across the Commonwealth, some firehouses and EMS companies are struggling to maintain sufficient staffing numbers.

Lawmakers and officials met at the Capitol Complex for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency state budget hearing and spoke about how they are addressing the growing need for volunteers.

“Pennsylvania has been number one the last three years running in civilian fire death numbers in the nation. To me, that’s not something to be proud of,” said State Fire Commissioner Thomas Cook.

The conversation focused on recruitment, retention, and consolidation of EMS and firehouses to get help to people faster.

“Lower Paxton Township, it’s mostly volunteer, but they just went in the direction of hiring 10 paid drivers so to make sure that once a call comes in, you’ve got a paid firefighter and driver to get on the rig and get out,” said State Rep. Justin Flemming (D-Dauphin).

While some areas are paying for career staff, not all areas can do so.

“Go to northern Dauphin [County], and you have a completely rural county with a whole different set of staffing and funding issues, same with Lancaster, and same with York,” Cook said.

Leaders are hopeful that merging several fire stations under one roof can help.

“We’ve got areas where there are, you know, there are four or five fire companies in a 5-mile radius, and do we need that many all responding?” Flemming said.

With fewer stations, officials explained funding allocations can increase to keep staff and equipment to meet the future demands of a region.

State leaders are also pushing to change how the nearly $30 million in grants are awarded to be need-based instead of split across 2,047 stations.

“That allows us to make transformational investment in our fire service upwards of $100,000 or more. So now we can fund projects that are actually going to make a difference,” Cook said.

Overall, the goal is simple for local leaders.

“Make sure that when you call 911. If you need medical attention, someone’s going to be at your door,” Flemming said.