PA. STATE SENATE PASSES BILL FOR JUNIOR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS

Pennsylvania is giving teenage volunteer firefighters more time to train as departments struggle with declining recruitment. A new law taking effect in December will allow minors to participate in training and firefighting activities until 10 p.m. every night of the year. Previously, the cutoff could be as early as nine depending on school schedules, creating confusion for departments and families. Fire officials say the uniform curfew will give junior volunteers more time to complete the roughly 150 hours of training needed to become certified firefighters. Departments say those young volunteers are critical to building the next generation of first responders.