1-800-FIRELINE

There is no question that Pennsylvania’s emergency response agencies are experiencing their worst staffing crisis ever.

Average volunteer membership has fallen from 20-50 active members to less than 30 today (members are described as those who respond to calls or help with operational activities on a regular basis). PFESI is committed to helping increase our pool of responders by providing easy access for interested volunteers to the emergency services in their local area through the 1-800-Fireline hotline.  Caller information is immediately relayed directly to their local agencies for follow-up and engagement by their responsible authorities.

Link: (coming soon).

What if no one answers the call?

It was a dark and stormy night in Pennsylvania. Basements were flooded. Trees were downed. Cars crashed. People of all ages called for help. What would happen if no one answered their call? Who would respond? Who would save their lives? Who would protect their property? Who would get the job done? 

Every day in every city, town and township in our Commonwealth emergency responders answer the call of our friends and neighbors in need of assistance. We do it for many different reasons. Some for the adrenaline rush. Some to sharpen our emergency skills and techniques. All to meet the challenge. All to help other people. 

The Pennsylvania Fire & Emergency Services Institute, in its mission to do everything possible to help local emergency service organizations do the job more effectively, has taken a leadership role by addressing one of the greatest challenges we all face - bringing in new people. During the past ten years, the number of volunteer emergency responders has continued to decline. 

In 1984 Pennsylvania's fire departments indicated that on the average they had from 20-50 active members (active members are defined as those who respond to calls or help with operational activities on a regular basis). In 1995, fire departments said they have between 21-30 active members. Today emergency responders do far more than just put out fires. We respond to vehicle accidents, clean-up hazardous materials incidents, and rescue people from all sorts of emergency situations. We are the first line of defense in natural and man-made disasters. 

In response to the growing need for new people, the Institute has established a toll-free 1-800 FIRE LINE number for Pennsylvanians to answer the call. Upon receiving calls from interested individuals, we will refer the name, address and phone number to the closest emergency service organization. Local emergency service leaders will contact the individual directly. We will advertise our 1-800 number on specially designed video tapes, posters, road signs, and brochures. 

Thanks to the Prudential Foundation, every high school and library in our state will receive a free twelve minute video tape and poster early in 1997. The video is specifically geared toward 11th grade students, however, the entire recruitment program encourages people of all ages to answer the call.

Governor Tom Ridge and many State Senators have appeared in public service announcements to promote our initiative. The Governor has also declared the third week in March (16-22) as "Emergency Service Providers Week" to make the public aware of our growing need for emergency responders. This initiative will be successful if we welcome interested men and women of all ages and walks of life. We need active fire fighters, emergency responders, fund raisers, and administrators. We need all types of people to improve our delivery of quality emergency services.

How can your emergency service organization or local government get involved? Call the Pennsylvania Fire & Emergency Services Institute at 1-800 FIRE LINE for more information. Together we will inform the public of our growing need for emergency responders and the enormous tax savings we provide for our people. And we will continue to answer every call.

Thomas L. Savage, III
Executive Director
Pennsylvania Fire & Emergency Services Institute
1-800 FIRE LINE