Stipends help improve fire protection in two Westmoreland communities

By Renatta Signorini

Trib Total Media

Two Westmoreland County volunteer fire departments are looking at how they can continue offering a stipend to firefighters who staff the respective stations after grant funding runs out. Officials at both stations — Rostraver Central and Southwest Greensburg — said their response time has improved by a minute or more as a result of having someone on duty, a move that could become more widespread as volunteer departments continue to struggle with recruiting and retaining members.

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