In the early 2000s, the Berkeley Hills Volunteer Fire Company faced a tough situation when responding to a house fire in Ross. The fire was so urgent that the fire marshal had to drive the truck himself. After rescuing a trapped child, the company realized they needed a change to ensure faster response times.
To address this, they created a live-in program, offering free housing for volunteers in exchange for service. They converted an office into a bunk room, which quickly became popular. Over time, they made several improvements, and now the fire station can accommodate up to 15 volunteers.
This live-in program is not unique to Berkeley Hills. Across Western Pennsylvania, many volunteer fire departments are struggling with declining volunteer numbers, as about 90% of fire departments in the state rely on volunteers. Nationally, the number of volunteer firefighters dropped significantly from 900,000 in 1984 to just over 650,000 in 2020.
In the Edgewood Volunteer Fire Department, which started a similar live-in program a decade ago, the department has seen a rise in calls, reaching 700 last week. Though no one is using the live-in program full-time right now, it’s still a helpful option for volunteers who stay overnight for possible calls. Volunteers often leave after a few years to take paid positions elsewhere.
The Penn Hills Volunteer Fire Department No. 7 made significant investments into its live-in program, including buying and renovating a building next door in 2018 to house about 20 volunteers. This program has helped shorten response times and attract younger members looking for experience and independence.
However, attracting and training new volunteers is challenging. To join these programs, candidates must complete hundreds of hours of fire training, which can be difficult for people with full-time jobs or family commitments.
Despite the success of live-in programs in improving response times, they are not seen as a sustainable long-term solution due to the ongoing volunteer shortage. A Pennsylvania state report highlighted the “crisis” in fire and EMS services, caused by an aging population and rising costs.
To help, Berkeley Hills recently received a federal grant for recruitment and retention efforts, including advertising and stipends for members. Additionally, the Community College of Allegheny County offers scholarships for local fire department members to receive free training, with a commitment to serve for five years after graduating.
Some departments are also using creative approaches, like family dinners, to build a sense of community and attract volunteers. However, the work remains difficult, and there’s still a stigma about why people would choose to work for free in a job that seems like it should be paid.
Fire departments continue to search for ways to address the volunteer shortage and ensure they can continue providing vital services.