VIDEO: Most volunteer firefighters have a full-time job that doesn’t involve putting out fires. But when a call comes in, they step away from work to respond.
Now, a newly established program with the Southmont Volunteer Fire Company will reimburse them for every incident they respond to.
“So volunteers are unpaid, of course. The purpose of a reimbursement program like one that we’ve established is to offer an additional incentive to volunteers for recruitment, but also repayment purposes,” said Edward Burkett, Deputy Chief of the department. Burkett developed the program based on what other departments in the Commonwealth have. It took nine months to launch it for Southmont, but the firefighter reimbursement program was officially launched April 1.