In an effort to keep their sirens from falling silent one area lawmaker is bringing all of the fire departments together to offer solutions.

Fire officials, like Richland Township fire chief Bob Heffelfinger, says it comes at the perfect time, “The Pennsylvania Association of Township Supervisors just released a piece with regards to declining volunteerism.”

Representative Bryan Barbin along with local fire chiefs will meet with the state fire commissioner.  Fire officials say it’s a chance for our legislators to better understand the similar issues each department is facing today.

“I’ve been in the fire service 47 years and back in the late 60s when I joined it was certainly a lot different on what we encountered as far as calls, the type of calls, and the number of calls,” Patton PIO Jerry Brant says.

Brant is also a grant writer.  He says costs continue to increase, while funding is decreasing.  At the upcoming meeting, they will also tackle recruiting and legislation that affects fire companies, like merging departments.

“In most cases, in almost all cases, it’s a positive for the community in service, but also in a financial perspective,” Heffelfinger explains when talking about merging.

“Even for those of us who don’t have man power issues, we still have man power issues if that makes any sense,” Brant says.  “I don’t know of any department that will say we’re locking the door.  We don’t want any more members.”

Heffelfinger says it would be great to take this initiative to a more regional level.

“We should definitely get together and really kind of develop action plans to be able to take to our legislation and have good solid discussions.”

The fire chiefs will meet Thursday at the Saint Michael Fire Hall in Cambria County.