Alarm Raised Over Shrinking Number Of Volunteer Firefighters

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A Pennsylvania state senator is worried about a decline in the number of volunteers at fire stations.

Sen. Randy Vulakovich said Wednesday that the number of volunteer firefighters in Pennsylvania is 50,000, down from 300,000 four decades ago.

The Tribune-Review of Pittsburgh reports that Vulakovich says the state needs to form a strategy to boost the number of volunteer firefighters.

Vulakovich, of Allegheny County, is chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee.

Vulakovich made the comments during a hearing at the Adamsburg Community Volunteer Fire Company, about 20 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

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