HARRISBURG, Pa. - A state lawmaker representing Mercer and Lawrence counties is urging passage of a bill designed to reverse the trend of a dwindling number of volunteer firefighters in Pennsylvania.

Senator Michelle Brooks has introduced Senate Bill 114, which would create a pilot program for community colleges and universities in the PA State System of Higher Education to give interested high school students training in firefighting. 

Brooks says the state is facing a severe shortage of volunteer firefighters, with the current number of volunteers down to less than 15% of the number of volunteers in the 1970s.

A report says the Commonwealth had nearly 300,000 volunteer emergency responders in the 70s.  That number has shrunk to approximately 37,000.

The decrease is being attributed to requirements that volunteers must pay for their own training, purchase equipment, and maintain facilities. Training also consumes a significant amount of time, especially in rural areas where training facilities may be a significant distance from home. 

The legislation would award three grants of $150,000 each, which would be distributed to three community colleges or schools in the Commonwealth, one in the eastern, central, and western parts of the state.

The grants will be used to establish fire training programs for students in high school during the school year.

“By encouraging school districts to partner with institutions of higher education, we can help recruit and retain firefighters at a time when first responders are desperately needed,” said Sen. Brooks.

Participating students would have to be age 16 or older.

Of Pennsylvania’s 2,462 fire companies, more than 90 percent are volunteer companies.