HARRISBURG – The State Senate on Monday gave final approval to a measure that is intended to make firefighter training more accessible and affordable through online courses, according to Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-34).
Senate Bill 146 ensures that online training would be voluntary and free to both career and volunteer firefighters. All available courses would be listed online, and developed under the leadership of the state Fire Commissioner.
“State-of-the-art training for firefighters saves lives – those of their firefighters and the people they help,” Corman said.
Training requirements are often cited as a barrier to recruitment and retention, particularly for volunteers, because they can be costly and time-consuming, often demanding travel and time away from work and family.
The Senate Resolution 6 Commission recommended online training as one of its core suggestions to ease the staffing burden on today’s firefighters.
Senate Bill 146 now goes to the governor for his signature.
