LAWMAKERS LOOKING AT HELPING VOLUNTEER FIREMEN

(02/27/2009)

The recent deaths of two Nicholas County men could have increased the interest in taking a closer look at providing financial incentives for volunteer firefighters in the Mountain State. One proposal is offering volunteer firefighters a pension-like benefit after 20-years service, a way of thanking them for volunteerism. The "West Virginia Firefighter Length of Service Act," which has been introduced in the Senate, would create a pension-like system that could reward eligible firefighters with a certain amount of experience a $400 monthly payment. The bill requires every fire department to contribute $2,000 annually to the fund for at least five years. Each recipient would be at least 60 and have at least 20 years of active service credit as a volunteer firefighter. Sen. Dan Foster, D-Kanawha, said "It's more like an insurance product, that provides some stipend for those who have served a certain amount of time." Legislators have been told the manpower issue is reaching a critical threshold around the state. There are about 10,000 volunteer firefighters in West Virginia. That's a drop from 12,000 in 2000. Volunteer fire departments serve about 87 percent of the state.

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