A red hot labor market and inadequate insurance reimbursements are squeezing Lower Burrell Volunteer Fire Company No. 3’s EMS and they are asking the city for help. City council has not agreed to anything but has been meeting with EMS and fire company officials to try to find a solution,
Since the current Pennsylvania Constitution was adopted in 1968, itâs been amended more than 40 times.
In this yearâs primary, set for May 18, voters have the opportunity to add an additional three amendments.
First, there is a proposed amendment that would prohibit the denial of an individualâs rights under Pennsylvania law because of their race or ethnicity. The proposal has proven to be largely uncontroversial and has stirred no organized opposition.
Two other proposed amendments, on the other hand, have stirred much more urgent debate. Both arising from the coronavirus pandemic, one would automatically end any disaster declarations after 21 days and prevent a governor from extending it, regardless of the severity of the emergency, unless the Legislature also agrees. The other, related amendment would give the Legislature the power to terminate or extend a disaster declaration without the governorâs approval.
Loss of online raffles, pandemic create ‘terrible struggle’ for financially strapped fire companies
Updated Feb 23, 2021;
Posted Feb 23, 2021
Officials at the Good Intent Hose Company in Llewellyn say fundraising has been difficult during the pandemic. Many volunteer departments rely on fundraising and are in a financial crunch, but some pending state legislation may give them a helping hand. (Steve Marroni/PennLive)
Facebook Share
When volunteer firefighters aren’t protecting their communities, they’re often hosting dinners, throwing carnivals, running raffles and playing bingo.
Sure, it’s fun, but that’s what they have to do to keep the lights on. And to keep their fire engines running.
As COVID-19 upends fundraising for Pennsylvaniaâs already strapped volunteer fire services, more departments are trying to recoup money spent on emergency services by billing insurance providers. Shawn Mederâs ringing phone can attest.
Meder, president and owner of Pa Fire Recovery Service LLC, a Macungie-based company that works with fire departments â including 79 in Northeast Pennsylvania â to bill insurance companies, said that prior to COVID-19, heâd get one or two phone calls in a week from fire officials seeking information on how they can collect.
Now, thatâs a normal day.
âCOVID and the lack of fundraising is definitely the driving force right now,â Meder said.