Program attracts, trains future firefighters

Manyvolunteer fire departments in the region are looking for ways to attract new — and keep old — members. And a unique scholarship program at Community College of AlleghenyCounty is helping.

The only program of its kind in thestate, FireVEST — which stands for Fire Volunteer, Education Service and Training — is a partnership among CCAC, the Allegheny County Executive and the Allegheny County Fire Academy. Individuals enrolled in the program receive a full scholarship to any associate degree or certificate program at CCAC as well as training at the Allegheny County Fire Academy in exchange for a five-year service commitment as a volunteer firefighter within the county.

The scholarship enabled Matthew Davis of Dormont to obtain his associate degree in fire science administration in 2012.

“It definitely helped me build a foundation to continue my college career and move on with my fire service education,” he said.

Mr. Davis, who became chief of the Dormont Volunteer Fire Department in January, went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in public administration with a concentration in fire service administration from Point Park University in 2014. He is now working on a master’s degree in business administration at the National Fire Academy’s executive fire officerprogram in Emmitsburg, Md.

More than 330 volunteer firefighters have participated in the FireVEST recruitment and retention program, which has been offered since 2009. These scholarship recipients serve in 136 of the county’s 187volunteer fire departments.

Mr. Davis said he encourages his firefighting colleagues to take advantage of FireVEST.

“We’ve had about a half-dozen people go through,’’ he said.

Chief Gene Marsico of the Aspinwall Volunteer Fire Department also tells his young