VIDEO: As the sirens fill the streets of Ashley Borough, volunteer firefighters are always ready for the call.
Chief Wes Saltz has been on duty for 35 years.
"A lot has changed. The number of volunteers is probably about 25% of what it used to be from when I first started. The demands on the departments are very different," said Chief Wes Saltz, Ashley Borough Fire Department. But one thing that hasn't changed:
An outdated Pennsylvania Gaming law that limits the way volunteer fire departments can run fundraisers and raffles.
"I've been here since the old days where you used to hold the boot out in the middle of traffic," said Deputy Chief Tony Ranieli, Pittston Township Volunteer Fire Department.
Current law prohibits fire departments from accepting cashless payments like credit cards or apps like Venmo.