EASTON, Pa. – Staffing shortages continue to plague fire departments around the region.
A fire chief in Northampton County says departments can face serious risks without the proper staffing on scene of an emergency.
“You run the risk of loss of life,” said City of Easton Fire Chief Henry Hennings.
When The Hotel Hampton in downtown Easton burst into flames in February, Hennings says firefighters responded immediately, with additional help from mutual aid.
“That brought three more people to the people that we had on staff, for a total of 15. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard for that type of occupancy, and that size building was 49 firefighters,” said Hennings.
Hennings says there are several tasks for every first responder required during a fire scene, especially coordinated efforts and specific staffing levels.
“When a fire comes in and you have no idea when that’s going to happen, you show up and people’s lives are at risk,” said Hennings. “You need X amount of firefighters to do a job in order to do it correctly.”
That goes for all career and volunteer departments.
Budget constraints and tax revenue are key factors in determining the number of staff, according to Hennings.
He says in areas of the country, departments have gone to county-wide fire and EMS departments, to help the funding burden.
“So like all our local municipalities around us, Forks Township, Palmer Township, Bethlehem Township, they’ve all recently initiated a fire tax to fund the portions of the fire department,” said Hennings.
Fire officials in the region say the lack of firefighters continues well beyond the Lehigh Valley.
“The shortage of firefighters is an exponential,” said Hennings.
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) is launching a national volunteer firefighter recruitment campaign. It’s in an effort to gather the next generation of firefighters.
Residents are encouraged to contact their local fire departments for volunteer opportunities.