With canceled events and fewer calls, Centre County fire, EMS companies face new challenges
Financial challenges are not new for fire and ambulance companies across Pennsylvania, but canceled fundraisers and decreased call volume have many in Centre County more concerned than ever about the future.
With the increasing shortage of volunteer firefighters and EMS providers in Pennsylvania, companies rely heavily on emergency calls, community donations and support to cover the rising cost of equipment and bills. But the coronavirus pandemic has affected all of those areas, leading local fire and ambulance services to cut costs where they can and hope for state assistance.
Coronavirus cancels carnival season
In a typical spring, fire companies across Centre County are preparing to host carnivals that act as a significant source of revenue. But due to COVID-19, many of those festivities — including carnivals and parades hosted by the Pleasant Gap, Boalsburg and Snow Shoe fire companies — will not happen this year.
“The carnival committee did not arrive at this decision lightly,” Snow Shoe Carnival Chairman Thomas Taylor Jr. wrote in a letter posted to social media last month. “We wanted to find a way to have a carnival as this would have been our 74th year. However, we all agreed that the health and well being of our town must come first.”
Following major flooding in 2016, the Howard Fire Company canceled its biggest fundraiser of the year, the Punkin’ Chunkin’ Festival, and risked losing 25% of its annual budget. But the company received enough donations to make up for the cancellation, company president Mark Ott said.
This year, Ott isn’t as optimistic about recovery for area fire companies with lost revenue.
“I just don’t see that happening because everybody’s in the same boat. People have lost their jobs,” Ott said. “It’s not just Howard; it’s everybody.”
Although Howard — which still plans to host October’s Punkin’ Chunkin’ Festival but has canceled other planned fundraisers —has cut back on expenses, Ott said the fire company had to make emergency repairs on its fuel tank and tanker.
“To kick us while we’re down, that was another $2,000 that came out of the blue,” Ott said. “But, we have to remain prepared and maintain ourselves to be able to answer calls.”
Some companies have organized alternative ways to fundraise, but Ott plans to send a check to every company and ambulance service with canceled events.
“As long as I am able, I’m going to send those companies the amount that I probably would have spent at their event,” he said. “If you normally go to these festivals to support these companies, if you still have an income, please donate.”
EMS companies face more direct challenge
Heather Sharar, executive director of the Ambulance Association of Pennsylvania, said she expects the financial struggles of EMS companies to rise as a result of the coronavirus. While fundraisers are important to maintaining operations, Sharar said the main issue is a decline in call volumes.
“EMS isn’t paid unless they transport a patient,” she said. “They are not getting direct financial support.”
Snow Shoe EMS Chief Sharon Nilson said the ambulance service has experienced a 40-50% decline in calls. Last year, the company announced it was struggling to pay its bills and maintain 24-hours of coverage.
Before the pandemic, the company was able to free up enough funding to establish a paid daytime staff, but now, Snow Shoe EMS isn’t generating enough revenue to pay its employees.
“We need donations to come in because we still have to pay our bills,” Nilson said. “Those aren’t going away. We’ve been tightening our belts and only ordering things that we really need to stay open.”
In March, the AAP started collecting financial data from its members in an effort to gauge the economic impact of COVID-19. Last month, the organization issued a call to action for state legislators, demanding support to help ensure the continuation of and access to emergency services.
In late March, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill that provides money to volunteer fire departments struggling to raise funds due to coronavirus. The bill would funnel $40 million to companies from the volunteer loan assistance fund and $10 million from the state general fund.
“They cannot fundraise right now,” State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte, said Thursday. “We are heading into carnival season, and unfortunately, a lot of that has been shut down. These companies are available 24-hours a day, and ... Pennsylvania’s fire companies are run by all volunteers. This is an opportunity for the Commonwealth to step up and say thank you for the work they’re doing.”
This story was originally published May 4, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
