DV Journal

(From a press release)

wildland firefighters, coordinated by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), to California to help combat the devastating wildfires near Los Angeles. This deployment is taking place as a result of a request for assistance from the state of California. These 40 firefighters will bring their expertise and commitment to protect lives, homes, and natural resources in communities outside Los Angeles.

“Today, 40 of Pennsylvania’s skilled wildland firefighters are heading to California to assist in the battle against these devastating fires,” said Governor Shapiro. “Pennsylvania stands ready to help our fellow Americans – and these brave, highly trained firefighters are answering the call and heading to California to join the ongoing work to help protect lives and entire communities.”

The crews, comprising 40 firefighters, departed on January 24 – and are expected to arrive in California on Monday, January 27. This dedicated team includes both experienced DCNR staff and volunteer wildland firefighters from across Pennsylvania, exemplifying the Commonwealth’s collaboration to assist other states in times of emergencies and readiness to answer the call for help.

“Our firefighters stand ready to meet the challenge of protecting lives, homes, and natural resources,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “Pennsylvania’s wildland firefighters are among the best in the nation, rigorously trained to national standards and widely respected for their expertise in wildfire management. We are proud to contribute our skills and resources to support California’s communities during this critical time.”

Each team is structured to operate effectively in the most demanding conditions, with 20 members led by a crew boss and three squad bosses. They will work and live together for the duration of their 14-day deployment, with tasks including:

• Installing water lines and sprinkler systems to protect fire lines and buildings,
• Improving defensible space around homes in the path of wildfires, and
• Reinforcing critical fire containment strategies to prevent further spread.

In addition to the deployed crews, Pennsylvania already has a trained liaison on the ground in Los Angeles, facilitating coordination between the U.S. Forest Service and East Coast fire crews. The DCNR Bureau of Forestry remains at the forefront of wildfire management, leveraging decades of experience and expertise to protect public and private lands from the devastating effects of wildfires.

Pennsylvania’s ability to assist other states in wildfire response is made possible under the Stafford Act, which allows the commonwealth to collaborate with federal agencies like the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service. Originally inspired by the devastation of Hurricane Agnes in 1972, the Stafford Act highlights the importance of interagency cooperation during disasters. DCNR has a long history of providing support in national emergencies, including after Hurricane Katrina in 2006 and Hurricane Ian in 2022.

The DCNR Bureau of Forestry is responsible for protecting the Commonwealth’s 17 million acres of public and private wildlands from damage by wildfire. For more than 50 years, DCNR also has participated in a cooperative agreement with the federal government to assist with personnel and equipment for out-of-state wildfires.

With volunteers making up more than 90 percent of the state’s firefighters, one Bucks County lawmaker wants Pennsylvania to pony up with a tax credit to help local departments recruit and retain these valuable volunteers.

State Rep. Joe Hogan (R-Feasterville) has introduced legislation to create a tax credit for firefighters and EMS personnel to help recruit and retain their services.

“The pandemic, with its resulting shutdowns and civil unrest, has had a disastrous impact on recruitment, as communities that rely on volunteers to fill these needs have experienced an unprecedented drop in recruitment,” Hogan said. “We should do anything we can to promote more recruitment into these professions so our communities can keep their citizens safe.”

House Bill 1557 would give a $7,500 tax credit to fire and EMS personnel currently serving in Pennsylvania and those who move to our state to take those positions. The tax break, which would be paid in $2,500 increments over three years, would go to both volunteers and paid first responders.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, volunteers account for 96.8 percent of firefighters in Pennsylvania, the second only to Delaware. The national average is 70.2 percent. Since the 1970s, volunteer firefighters have fallen from 360,000 to fewer than 37,000.

“I am now proposing we provide the same tax relief to firefighters and emergency medical service personnel that we recently gave to teachers, police officers, and nurses,” Hogan said, “Both provide lifesaving services and are critical to the standard of living that each Pennsylvanian should expect. Firefighters and EMS personnel are some of the most crucial workers in the commonwealth, and we should do whatever we can to keep them in the state.”

Fire Chief Eamon Brazunas of the Phoenixville volunteer fire company said he thinks the bill is a good idea.

“Yes, $2,500 is significant,” said Brazunas. He remembered about 10 years ago, the legislature offered $100. To qualify, firefighters had to fill out pages of paperwork. “The first thing is the retention part. I mean, you have guys and gals still volunteering, and you have people maybe toward the end of their volunteer life, for lack of a better term. If something can be done to keep folks involved for a few more years…Tax credits aren’t bad. Financially, $2,500 is significant.”

“So it’s really a win-win for the community,” said Brazunas. “And also for the volunteers.”

Robert Brooks, president of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Firefighters Association, supports the bill.

“The Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighter Association (PPFFA) is made up of nearly 10,000 members of the professional fire and emergency medical professions,” said Brooks. “Our Executive Board and our members support enhanced public safety policies, measures, and legislation. Allowing new hires to receive a tax credit could provide the opportunity to hire more professionals across the commonwealth in various municipalities.

We look forward to working on this bill and other priorities that would treat mental health as an injury for post-traumatic stress, cancer screenings for our members, and continued collective barging rights and protections.

House Bill 1557 now heads to the House Finance Committee for consideration.

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From a press release

Nineteen students completing the latest Chester County Firefighter I Training Course conducted final firefighting exercises at the Chester County Public Safety Training Campus.  The exercises covered search and rescue, indoor firefighting, fire attack types, auto fires, dumpster fires, and stages of fires. All exercises represent the final steps needed to complete the 188-hour classroom and practical skills certification.

Chester County’s current Firefighter I class includes 17 men and two women, the majority of whom are college students who are adding the important first responder certification to their other qualifications.

Sophia Crossan, a West Grove resident who is a rising sophomore studying neuroscience at Villanova University, said, “I have been involved in emergency medical services and while I was hesitant to take the firefighting course, I absolutely love it.”

“There is so much that is covered, and as I really enjoy any type of STEM learning, the areas that really interest me are fire behaviors, the way fires work and studying the effects of different burning materials.  I really enjoy the first responder aspect of my life,” Crossan added. 

Oxford resident Eddy Chavez, who is a rising sophomore studying business management at Arizona State University, has been in the fire service with Oxford Union Fire Company for almost a year.  “With this course, I can take on more responsibilities in firefighting, including going into burning buildings and packing up,” he noted.

The need for firefighters across the state and the nation is at an all-time high. In Chester County, most firefighters are volunteers, which adds to the challenges of recruitment and retention of firefighters.

Matt Fink, Chester County Department of Emergency Services Fire Training Officer and leader of the Firefighter I course said, “As with many other organizations that rely on – and are looking for – volunteers, we struggle to replace those firefighters who are retiring out of service.  But students like those on this course learn so much more than the necessary academic and practical firefighting skills.  They experience the benefits of becoming teammates, working together, trusting each other, and backing up each other, which are all valuable life lessons.

“The Firefighter I training course is available year-round, and we certainly encourage others – especially students – to find out more about the certification.  It is one of the best ways to give back to your community,” added Fink.

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