Volunteer firefighters and EMTs don’t just magically appear when an emergency takes place.

It takes dedicated people willing to train and always be ready to respond.

For years the trend has been that fewer people are willing to take on that responsibility.

On Thursday, fire and EMS personnel from the northern Lehigh Valley and Carbon County got to address some of the state’s top emergency officials at a roundtable hosted by state Rep. Zach Mako.

State Fire Commissioner Bruce Trego, Bureau of Emergency Services director Dylan Ferguson, and Sean Harris, a staffer with the legislative committee overseeing emergency preparedness, listened to questions from first responders and told them what Harrisburg is doing to help.

Trego said it is his goal to let firefighters get back to what they signed up to do — train and fight fires.

He recalled how when he joined as a teenager in the ’70s, the firehouse was the hub of the community, and there were numerous residents who did their part to help, even if they weren’t the ones entering a burning building.

“Some of you wear three to four hats, even if you won’t admit it,” he said. “It’s not fair to you or your family.”

State report

Last year, the state House of Representatives issued a report documenting the challenges facing volunteer firefighters and EMTs.

“Fire and EMS are in crisis — right now. Simply put, EMS is woefully lacking in funding — and the number of volunteer firefighters has fallen dramatically over the decades,” the report reads.

Trego said that the report is a good first step. However he wants to hear from firefighters about what proposals work and which ones don’t.

One firefighter said he believes the future is a hybrid of paid and volunteer firefighters.

Whitehall Township Fire Chief David Nelson said a new law, which allows townships to give tax breaks needs to go further, to the state level. Firefighters often work in municipalities other than where they live, so they don’t get to reap the benefits.

Harris, the legislative staffer, asked attendees if they wanted to see training become mandatory for firefighters. The reaction was mixed.

Harris said that mandating training has met opposition statewide because many firefighters do not want the state having that kind of control over them.

Another firefighter suggested that the state first look into streamlining the structure of fire departments around the state before they start mandating training.

Ambulance Corps

While firefighters are trying to find a way to attract new recruits, ambulance companies face the issue of increasing revenue in order to pay and retain their workers.

Ambulances rely on insurance reimbursements, which oftentimes do not cover their expenses.

Ferguson said an inherent problem is that people don’t think they need ambulance service until an emergency strikes.

“People are only willing to contribute to what they see value for,” Ferguson said.

The lack of revenue has an impact on personnel.

Ferguson said that 18,000 EMTs let their certifications lapse since Jan. 1, 2018.

He was especially troubled that one-third of them are under the age of 30, which suggests that young people are moving on to other jobs in the medical field with better pay.

Maria Wescoe, director of operations for Northampton Regional EMS, said she believes that ambulances need tax revenue to supplement the reimbursements they rely on.

“We are the only health care entity which treats people regardless of payment,” she said.

A major problem is that some people don’t look at EMTs as health care providers, but rather as transporters. That influenced the way state law was written. A recently passed law changed that. The treat no transport law allows ambulance companies to be reimbursed if they treat a patient at home but that patient refuses a ride to the hospital.

Ferguson said he is in favor of looking at more ways to help, including a “triage line” which could determine if a patient truly needs a ride to the hospital, or if their condition could be treated with a doctor’s appointment or urgent care.

That’s a long way off. But Ferguson said that the best way for EMTs and volunteer firefighters alike to maintain Harrisburg’s attention is to work together.

“When you speak with one voice, you will be heard. When there are factions, holes develop,” Ferguson said.