Office of the State Fire Commissioner

Staffing Models

With more than 2,100 fire departments across Pennsylvania, administrative and staffing models can vary widely. Use this page to browse model options that could make sense for your department.

A group of firefighters stands in front of their department and a fire engine at sunset.

Examples of Staffing Types

Centre Region Council of Regional Fire Protection, Centre County

Council of Government provides funding and leadership to a primarily volunteer department with three stations. The council is made up of one borough and five townships.

Garden Spot Fire Rescue, Lancaster County

Merger of three volunteer departments under one unified chain of command. Serves one borough and two townships.

Lower Paxton Township Bureau of Fire, Dauphin County

Though operationally under Lower Paxton Township Bureau of Fire. The township's deputy chief runs the daily operations and administration of fire services. Each of the volunteer fire departments operate independently of each other.

Warwick Emergency Services, Lancaster County

Made up of:

  • Three volunteer fire departments
  • One combination fire and EMS
  • One EMS-only station

Some paid staff cover EMS unites.

Operationally under the Warwick Emergency Services Commission, the township's fire commissioners run daily operations and administration of fire services.

Each of the volunteer fire departments operate independently of one another. There has not been a merger or consolidation of fire companies.

 

Exeter Township Volunteer Fire Department, Berks County

Mergers two combination departments under one unified chain of command. 

Serves one borough and one township.

Paid staffing: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In-house duty crew staff: 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

EXAMPLE 1

Centre Region Council of Governments Fire Protection, Centre County

Area Statistics

Type: Urban, suburban, and rural

Class: Mixed

Size: 104 square miles

Population: 93,000
 

ISO rating for regions protected by Alpha Fire Company

  • State College Borough: 2
  • College Township: 2/2Y
  • Ferguson Township: 2/2Y
  • Patton Township: 2/2Y
  • Benner Township: 3/3Y

Funding Sources

Municipal: Yes

Grants: Yes

Fundraising/donations: Yes, to directly benefit volunteers

Past Fire Studies

DCED: N/A

Third party: 2019

Department Information

Response capabilities: Fire, no QRS
 

Apparatus:

  • Engines: 4
  • Trucks: 3
  • Tankers: 2
  • Squads: 3
  • Specialty: Traffic, 2
  • EMS: 0
     

Call volume: 1,425

Staffing

Type: Combination
 

Active volunteer means: Point system [fire calls, standby shifts, training, meeting]
 

Training standards: FF I, CPR/First Aid, HMO
 

Annual physicals: Required depending on membership status. HazMAT Team required annually. Audiology testing required for drivers. Other physicals every two years.

Staffing Programs
Home response  ✔
Live-in   ✔
Duty crew   ✔
Other: Bunk-in   ✔

Incentives
Stipends   ✔
Pay per call  🛇
LOSAP 🛇
Tuition programs: TBD

Administrative staff
• Paid officers: One fire director, three assistant chiefs

• Volunteer officers: One fire chief, two assistant chiefs

• Paid support staff: One office manager

 

Volunteer base is about 30 percent college students.

EXAMPLE  2

Garden Spot Fire Rescue, Lancaster County

Area Statistics

Type: Suburban and rural

Class: 2nd Class Township 

Size: 29.8 square miles

Population: 15,000

Number of businesses: 400
 

ISO rating for regions protected by Garden Spot Fire Rescue: 2

Past Fire Studies

DCED: N/A

Third party: N/A

Department Information

Response capabilities: Fire with QRS

Stations:
3

Apparatus:

  • Engines: 3
  • Trucks: 1
  • Rescue(s): 1
  • Tankers: 1
  • Squads: 2
  • Specialty: Brush, 1; traffic, 1; UTV, 1; boats, 2; air, 1 
  • EMS: 0

Call volume: 520

Staffing

Type: Volunteer
 

Active volunteers: 80
Active Career Staff:

Definition of active fire response volunteer: 10% calls

Training Standards: In-house probation book/ certifications

Do you require/ offer annual physicals: Required for drivers [CDL]
 

Merger of three volunteer departments under one unified chain-of-command.  Serving one borough and two townships. 

Staffing Programs
Home response  ✔
Live-in   🛇
Duty crew   🛇
Bunk-in  🛇

Incentives
Stipends   🛇
Pay per call  🛇
LOSAP 🛇
Tuition programs: 🛇

Administrative staff
Paid officers: 0

• Volunteer officers: All operational officers are volunteers

• Paid support staff: One full-time administrator, two part-time administrative assistance

 

Funding Sources

Municipal: Yes

Grants: Yes

Fundraising/donations: Yes

EXAMPLE 3

Lower Paxton Township Bureau of Fire, Dauphin County

Area Statistics

Type: Suburban and Mixed Urban

Class: 2nd Class Township 

Size: 29 square miles

Population: 55,000

ISO Rating: 2

Funding Sources

Municipal: Yes

Grants: Yes

Fundraising/donations: Yes

Past Fire Studies

DCED: N/A

Third party: 2023

Department Information

Response capabilities: Fire, no QRS

Stations:
3
 

Apparatus:

  • Engines: 4
  • Trucks: 3
  • Rescue(s): 2
  • Tankers: 1
  • Squads: 3
  • Specialty: Traffic, 2;  air, 1 
  • EMS: 0
     

Call volume: 2,000

Staffing

Type: Volunteer
 

Active volunteers: 70
Active career ataff:

Definition of active fire response volunteer: Meets training standards.

Training standards: FF I, CPR/ Basic First Aid, HMO

Do you require/offer annual physicals? No

 

Though operationally under Lower Paxton Township Bureau of Fire, with the township’s deputy chief running the daily operations and administration of the fire services, each of the volunteer fire departments operate independently of one another.

Staffing Programs
Home response  ✔
Live-in    ✔
Duty crew    ✔

Incentives
Stipends    ✔
Pay per call  🛇
LOSAP  ✔
Tuition programs:  ✔

Administrative staff
Paid officers: Deputy chief and fire marshal.

• Volunteer officers: Each volunteer station has its own chief officers.

• Paid support staff: None

 

EXAMPLE 4

Warwick Emergency Services Commission Bureau of Fire

Area Statistics

Type: Suburban and Rural

Class: Mixed

Size: 32 square miles

Population: 33,000

ISO Rating

  • Lititz Borough: 5/5Y
  • Elizabeth Township: 8B/10
  • Warwick Township: 6/6Y

Funding Sources

Municipal: Yes (no fire tax)

Grants: Yes

Fundraising/donations: Yes

Past Fire Studies

DCED: N/A

Third party: VFIS, 2011; ROBB Consulting, 2018

Department Information

Response capabilities: Fire/ No QRS within FCs; 2 local EMS companies

Stations:
3- Fire, 1- Fire and EMS, 1- EMS only

Apparatus:

  • Engines: 6
  • Trucks: 1
  • Rescue(s): 1
  • Tankers: 3
  • Squads: 4
  • Specialty: 1, TAC
  • EMS: 7 transporting, 2 squad

Call volume: 800 fire, 5,000 EMS

Staffing

Type: Volunteer
 

Active volunteers: 130
Active Career Staff:
0 (EMS has full-time and part-time staffing)

Definition of active fire response volunteer: Varies by station

Training Standards: FF I, VRT, CPR/ First Aid, HAZMAT

Do you require/ offer annual physicals: Not fully implemented, but building a “fit for duty” program based on role.

Staffing Programs
Home response  ✔
Live-in    ✔
Duty crew    ✔

Incentives
Stipends    ✔
Pay per call  🛇
LOSAP  ✔
Tuition programs:  ✔

Administrative staff
Paid officers: Deputy chief and fire marshal

• Volunteer officers: Each volunteer station has its own chief officers

• Paid support staff: None

 

Though operationally under Warwick Emergency Services Commission, with the township’s fire commissioners running the daily operations and administration of the fire services, each of the volunteer fire departments operate independently of one another.

There has not been a merger or consolidation of fire companies. Fire chiefs work together in a regional system under the direction of Warwick Emergency Services Commission.

EXAMPLE 5

Exeter Township Volunteer Fire Department

Area Statistics

Type: Suburban and Rural

Class: Mixed

Size: 26 square miles

Population: 27,000

ISO Rating: 3/3Y

Past Fire Studies

DCED: N/A

Third party: 2022 (ISO)

Department Information

Response Capabilities: Fire/QRS

Stations:
2

Apparatus:

  • Engines: 3
  • Trucks: 1
  • Rescue(s): 0
  • Tankers: 1
  • Brush: 3
  • Squads: 2
  • Specialty: 1, traffic
  • EMS: 0

Call volume: 1,500

Staffing

Type: Volunteer
 

Active volunteers: 100
Active Career Staff:
 18 to fill 5 positions (2 full-time/ 16 part-time)

Definition of active fire response volunteer: Staffing program and community service form to track hours.

Training Standards: FF I, CPR/ First Aid, HMO

Do you require/ offer annual physicals: No

 

Paid staffing covers 6 a.m.. to 6 p.m. In-house duty crew staffing covers 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Staffing Programs
Home response  ✔
Live-in    ✔
Duty crew    ✔
Other (Additional bunk-in crews)  ✔

Incentives
Stipends    ✔
Pay per call  ✔
LOSAP  🛇
Tuition programs  ✔

Tax credit programs: municipal and school
 

Administrative staff
Paid officers: None

• Volunteer officers: Yes. All in incentive program.

• Paid support staff: None

 

Funding Sources

Municipal: Yes (no fire tax)

Grants: Yes

Fundraising/donations: Yes (to directly benefit the volunteers)

Note: The Office of the State Fire Commissioner provides these resources for convenience and informational purposes only. Provision of these links is neither an endorsement nor approval by the Office of the State Fire Commissioner or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania of any of the products, services, or information contained therein.