What would happen if the Lisburn Community Fire Company siren sounded, and nobody responded?

Thankfully, that isn’t the case. Led by Chief Josh Keller, LCFC volunteer firefighters respond around the clock whenever called upon by the community.

There is more to just coming when called, though. Firefighters spend hours learning to attack a house fire, to handle chemicals stored at local businesses, and to extricate a driver from an overturned car.

Factor in monthly meetings and fund raising, committing to protecting neighbors’ homes and businesses is akin to a second full-time job.

While Lisburn firefighters receive no compensation for their service, a bill has been proposed in the State Senate that would help compensate for the many sacrifices made to protect us. Proposed by Senators Lisa Baker and Sean Wiley, the bill would allow municipalities to waive the local earned income tax for its active firefighters and emergency medical service (EMS) volunteers.

While not a significant sum of money, the effort is one approach to ensuring that, instead of providing paid firefighters, volunteers will continue to answer the call.

“When those first flames begin, we cannot afford to sound the alarm and have no one come,” Sen. Baker said in a recent PennLive/The Patriot-News story.

The story went on to mention that some fire companies reward volunteers with fuel cards, gift certificates, and college scholarships.

Just up the road, Lower Allen Township has constructed a live in program that provides room and board to firefighting students at HACC in exchange for volunteer hours. The program was featured in a recent WGAL story.

Regardless of the method used, the ongoing need for volunteer firefighters is clear. In the same PennLive/The Patriot-News story, Sen. Baker estimated the cost to convert the state’s volunteer firefighters to a paid, career force is $6 billion annually.

Help support Lisburn Community Fire Company by taking action now:

• become a member, either an active firefighter or a social member. Either one will contribute materially to the strength of LCFC;
• join our email list to be notified of upcoming fund raisers and volunteer needs, and;
• Like our Facebook page, then share it with your friends and family.

The more people who know about the sacrifice and commitment of the Lisburn Community Fire Company firefighters, the stronger and safer we’ll all be.