According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the number of volunteer firefighters in Pennsylvania has dropped dramatically from 300,000 in 1974 to just 72,000 in 2005. To combat this trend, federal and state lawmakers are sponsoring the SERVE Act to provide a $1,000 tax credit to active volunteer firefighters and emergency workers serving a minimum of one year.

The bill was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire (D-McCandeless). It currently is in committee, although two similar bills have failed in past years. Rep. Tim Solobay (D-Canonsburg), who also serves as volunteer chief of Canonsburg, says that should the SERVE Act pass, it would be an important first step, but is far from solving the problem of recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters

On July 11, Gov. Ed Rendell signed a bill into law that will give Pennsylvania volunteer firefighters a $100 tax credit and two other bills already are under consideration in the state to address similar concerns. One would provide tuition assistance for college students who volunteer, and the second is a tax credit for businesses that employ volunteers.

Volunteers save Pennsylvania approximately $6 billion per year, but many departments have needed to start paying volunteers. South Strabane Township Fire Chief Scott Reese told the paper that many of his department's volunteer firefighters have left for paid positions in Virginia. Dravosburg Fire Chief John Palcsey says that if the problem with diminishing volunteers continues, the department either will merge with a nearby on or disappear completely.