Shaffer, Cooper Hearings Highlight Need to Strengthen Pennsylvania’s Fire, EMS Services

October 20, 2026

House advances firefighter cancer screening program, sends first responder training legislation to governor
HARRISBURG—Pennsylvania’s firefighters and emergency medical service providers face mounting staffing and financial pressures that threaten their ability to maintain reliable emergency response, testifiers told the House Republican Policy Committee during two recent hearings.

Led by Chairman David H. Rowe (R-Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata), the committee joined Rep. Jeremy Shaffer (R-Allegheny) for “Meeting the Needs of our Firefighters” on Oct. 8 at the Richland Township Volunteer Fire Department and Rep. Jill Cooper (R-Westmoreland) for “Protecting Pennsylvania: Strengthening Fire and Emergency Medical Services” on Oct. 14 at the Murrysville Municipal Building.

Across both hearings, fire chiefs, EMS leaders, municipal officials, and fire service representatives described workforce shortages, rising equipment costs, administrative burdens and funding challenges. They offered recommendations ranging from accessible training and stronger volunteer retention efforts to regional cooperation and insurance reimbursement reform.

Allegheny County: Recruiting, Retaining and Equipping Firefighters
The Oct. 8 hearing featured testimony from David McWilliams, chief of the Richland Township Volunteer Fire Department; Bruce Hezlep, director of public safety for Pine Township and assistant chief at Cranberry Volunteer Fire Company; Josh Wiegand, chief of West Deer Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 3; Tim Leech, vice president of Pittsburgh Fire Fighters; and John “J.C.” Tedorski, deputy state fire commissioner with the Office of the State Fire Commissioner.

McWilliams described the pressures facing an all-volunteer department with increasing call volume, aging equipment and limited personnel available during the workday. He outlined replacement costs of approximately $1.6 million for a rescue engine, $1.8 million for an engine and $2.8 million for a ladder truck.

“Recruitment’s probably going to be the most important thing that came from that report,” McWilliams said, discussing a draft assessment of his department. “How do we get people to come in? How do we get people to staff our equipment and answer calls?”

McWilliams said the assessment also raised questions about future staffing needs, including the potential need for paid personnel, and how the department and township would finance them.

Hezlep emphasized that modern firefighters respond to a wide range of emergencies while also managing extensive training, fundraising, maintenance and administrative responsibilities. Those demands often fall on the same small group of volunteers.

“Everybody has a role, but it’s the same small group of people, and it’s a sustainability problem,” Hezlep said.

He encouraged consideration of meaningful volunteer incentives, employer support for emergency response, administrative assistance and stronger regional cooperation. He also stressed the importance of mental health support for responders coping with traumatic experiences.

Wiegand said successful recruitment requires deliberate community outreach and a clear explanation of the many ways residents can contribute. Retaining those volunteers requires strong leadership, meaningful training, flexibility and a respectful department culture.

“If we recruit 10 people and lose eight of them, then we have not solved our problem,” Wiegand said. “People stay where they feel their time matters.”

He described incentives used by his department and others, including modest payments for calls, certification incentives, local tax relief and educational opportunities. He also emphasized the value of volunteers who assist with fundraising, administrative work and community events.

Leech urged lawmakers to examine how emergency services are organized and supported as communities struggle to sustain traditional staffing models. He discussed shared administration, regionalized services, combination departments with career and volunteer personnel, and state assistance to help communities navigate organizational changes.

“The question is not whether Pennsylvania’s fire service is changing. It already is,” Leech said.

Tedorski outlined the Office of the State Fire Commissioner’s work on recruitment, retention, training, financial assistance and responder wellness. He described research pointing to flexible scheduling, supportive leadership and access to training as important factors in attracting and keeping volunteers.

“Recruitment alone cannot compensate for avoidable loss of existing members,” Tedorski said.

He encouraged departments to recruit administrative volunteers to reduce the burden on operational personnel. He also discussed school and career and technical education pathways, online and blended training, and training opportunities for people who want to serve in exterior firefighting roles.

Tedorski identified a need to update grant and loan program language to reflect evolving service models and support collaboration where appropriate. Committee discussion also examined whether existing funding programs adequately accommodate partnerships between volunteer and career departments.

“Our volunteer firefighters give an extraordinary amount of their time, and the demands on them continue to grow,” Shaffer said. “We need to make it practical for people to join, give them reasons to stay and ensure their departments have the resources to protect both their communities and their members.”

Westmoreland County: Funding Emergency Services and Maintaining Readiness
The Oct. 14 hearing featured Robert “Bobby” Rosatti, chief of the Forbes Road Volunteer Fire Department; Michael Nestico, chief administrator for the Municipality of Murrysville; Michael “Mike” Wystepek, chief operating officer of Mutual Aid Ambulance Service; and Gary Watters, president of the Ambulance Association of Pennsylvania.

Rosatti described how personnel shortages can require numerous departments to respond to a single fire to assemble enough firefighters, particularly during daytime hours.

“That is our biggest problem that we’re having in the volunteer fire service. Hands down is the lack of manpower,” Rosatti said.

He also outlined the costs of equipment testing, maintenance and apparatus replacement, along with the demands of training and fundraising. His recommendations included assistance with the legal work involved in regionalization and incentives for employers that allow firefighters to respond without losing pay.

Nestico explained the municipal role in financing emergency services, including Murrysville’s dedicated funding for fire apparatus, operating support, workers’ compensation coverage and annual contribution to its EMS provider.

“Volunteer protection does not mean fire protection comes without a cost,” Nestico said.

He urged long-term capital planning, dependable funding, and cooperation between municipalities and emergency service organizations. He also emphasized transparency and accountability, noting that communities have different financial capacities and need flexibility to meet local needs.

Wystepek described the cost of keeping an ambulance service ready around the clock, including personnel, vehicles, medical equipment, supplies and continuing education. Those expenses exist regardless of how many calls an agency receives, while reimbursement largely depends on transporting patients.

“We are expected to maintain a system of constant readiness, but we are not consistently reimbursed for the true cost of maintaining that system,” Wystepek said.

He testified in support of Cooper’s House Bill 1152, which would reform commercial insurance reimbursement for dispatched 911 ambulance services through a payment structure tied to Medicare rates, direct reimbursement to EMS agencies, and patient protections.

“When Pennsylvanians call 911, they have come to expect a professional and prompt response, but the current financial environment that surrounds operating an ambulance service is making it difficult. Almost 50 ambulance companies closed their doors statewide during 2023–24,” Cooper said. “Lawmakers can no longer wait to address these issues and find long-term solutions that keep families safe.”

Watters warned that ambulance service closures shift responsibility to neighboring agencies, expanding their coverage areas and stretching already limited resources.

“When agencies close, the calls don’t disappear,” Watters said. “Neighboring services must cover more territory and often with resources already stretched too thin.”

He called for insurance reimbursement reform, dependable funding to maintain readiness and improved access to workforce development funding for EMS apprenticeships, wages and tuition. He also urged action to preserve ambulance staffing flexibility and discussed clearer arrangements between municipalities and EMS providers to support coverage and accountability.

Protecting Those Who Answer the Call
Across both hearings, witnesses stressed that sustaining emergency services also requires protecting responders’ physical and mental health. Discussion included hazardous exposures, cancer risks and screenings, peer support, mental health resources and the cumulative effects of responding to traumatic events.

To help protect firefighters’ health, Shaffer is co-sponsoring House Bill 2394, which would establish a statewide program to cover cancer screening costs not paid by eligible firefighters’ health insurance.

Testimony underscored the connection between responder well-being and workforce retention, with witnesses emphasizing the importance of addressing burnout, workload, and access to support throughout a responder’s career.

“Our first responders make an extraordinary commitment to their neighbors,” Rowe said. “We need to match that commitment with practical policies that support their health, strengthen their organizations, and help ensure reliable emergency services are there when Pennsylvanians need them.”

Taking Action
Recent legislative action addresses several of the needs highlighted at the hearings, including access to cancer screenings and experienced instructors to train the next generation of first responders.

Building on efforts to expand access to firefighter cancer screenings, the House passed House Bill 2826, co-sponsored by Shaffer and Rep. Michael Stender (R-Montour/Northumberland), which would establish a statewide firefighter cancer screening program and dedicated fund to help eligible firefighters access screenings at no cost, subject to available funding.

The General Assembly also passed Senate Bill 782, companion legislation to Rep. Jim Struzzi’s (R-Indiana) House Bill 2032. The “Return to Service” measure would allow retirees in the state and public school employee retirement systems to work part-time as state-certified fire, EMS and police instructors without affecting their pension benefits. The legislation now heads to the governor’s desk.

Additional House Republican proposals discussed at the hearings include:
• House Bill 996 - Helping our Emergency Responders Help More People – Making Act 72 of 2022 Permanent, sponsored by Rep. Joe Hamm (R-Lycoming/Sullivan).
• House Bill 1168 - Local Fire Department Donation Option (former House Bill 2093), sponsored by Rep. Michael Stender (R-Montour/Northumberland).

The full hearings can be found at policycommittee.com.

Representative David H. Rowe
85th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Nancy Nilson
nnilson@pahousegop.com
www.policycommittee.com