Westmoreland could gain 300 more firefighters via incentives from $4.3M grant

Sept. 29--Westmoreland County's volunteer fire departments anticipate adding up to 300 future first responders to their rolls as a $4.3 million federal grant helps the region recruit and equip volunteer firefighters.

The grant through FEMA's "Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response," or SAFER program, will include a mix of retention incentives for experienced and active firefighters; funding for advertising to attract new recruits; new turnout gear so newly minted firefighters don't have to buy their own or take hand-me-downs; and funding for training and certification courses at Westmoreland County Community College's Public Safety Training Center outside Smithton, where an event commemorating the grant was held Friday.

Funding will be administered through Hempfield Township, the largest of the 60 departments in the grant. Together, they represented 83 of the county's 113 fire stations.

"The emergency facing our 12 fire departments is not unique to Hempfield, but common to Westmoreland County and throughout the state," said Doug Weimer, president of the Hempfield Board of Supervisors. "When our board heard of the opportunity through the Westmoreland County Community Foundation to assist with the grant acquisition, we jumped at that chance."

The Community Foundation made an initial $10,000 investment to study the county's fire department staffing and needs. According to that study, conducted by Cambria County-based consultant Decoplan, the average age of the firefighters with the departments in the grant was 39. Only 12 of the departments could consistently meet the National Fire Protection Association's standards of having six to 10 personnel responding to a scene within 10 to 14 minutes, depending on the density of the area served.

"Some people may say, 'Well, we don't have a problem in this county because when we call 911, someone shows up," said Jerry Brandt, one of the authors of the Decoplan study. But many departments could field only four or five firefighters per call, especially during daylight hours when volunteers are working their day jobs, and additional departments would have to be called to provide adequate staffing.

The departments initially had applied for an even $5 million, with the goal of attracting 500 new firefighters, but the final grant led them to lower the official goal to 300.

Among the benefits participating fire departments can offer:

--300 new sets of turnout gear, at about $2,500 each --A total of $90,000 to train new recruits up to Firefighter-1 level certification

--$80,300 to train firefighters in basic vehicle rescue and Firefighter-2 certification

--A $5-per-call stipend for active firefighters on up to 110 calls each

--Up to $10,000 in tuition reimbursement at institutions of higher learning for Firefighter-2 certified members, in any course -- not limited to classes for firefighter training

"Having 60 (companies) come together is a remarkable feat," said U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair. "I think that really impressed those on the federal level when they were looking at these."

Matthew Santoni is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724 836 6660, msantoni@tribweb.com or on Twitter @msantoni.

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