November 29, 1999

Bard Calls for $100 Million
to Replenish Volunteer Fire Companies, Emergency Services
Legislator co-sponsors bill to establish grant program

Harrisburg - Montgomery County lawmaker Rep. Ellen M. Bard (R-153) announced today she is co-sponsoring legislation establishing a grant program for fire and emergency service organizations and called on lawmakers to support the measure.

Bard, who is a member of the House Firefighter and Emergency Services Caucus, said the legislation would provide $100 million from the state’s Tobacco Master Settlement to a restricted interest-bearing account within the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). The annual interest earned on the account would be available for grants to volunteer fire and emergency services personnel.

The fund would be authorized to distribute grants for:

• the establishment of recruitment and retention incentive programs; or
• to purchase and maintain modem firefighting and fire protection equipment, not including the purchase or maintenance of vehicles or apparatus.

The grants would be limited to no more than $25,000 per organization per year.

“Our volunteer firefighters and EMS workers don’t have adequate resources to handle the increasing number of emergency calls,” said Bard. “Many of our volunteer units are understaffed and are using outdated equipment.”

The lawmaker noted that, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Pennsylvania has seen a 54 percent decrease in volunteer firefighters since 1985.

“The interest-bearing account created in this legislation would ensure almost perpetual funding for our volunteer firefighters and emergency service personnel sufficient for them to have the resources and equipment they need to save lives,” said Bard.

The allocation of $100 million is less than 1 percent of the $11.3 billion total tobacco settlement Pennsylvania stands to receive over the next 25 years.

The lawmaker said funding for EMS and firefighter services is a legitimate use of money from the tobacco settlement.

“More civilians die in smoking related fires than in any other type of fire in the United States,” said Bard. “Tobacco-related materials were the cause of 73 percent of outdoor fires and 22 percent of structure fires in 1996.

“Ninety percent of our communities rely upon protection from volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel, so I believe we have an obligation to use some of the money from the tobacco settlement to rejuvenate our volunteer firefighting and EMS services in Pennsylvania.”

House Bill 60 has been referred to the House Veterans and Emergency Preparedness Committee for consideration.