Comments Document

NAMIC letter in opposition to House Bill 2069.

The Virginia State Firefighter's Association strongly supports this bill. It is vital to the citizens of Virginia that fire departments need to upgrade and replace fire equipment as well as to employ additional firefighters. This has become a crisis in our Commonwealth and many fire departments will be going broke and will be unable to answer fire calls in many communities. The traditional fund raising efforts by the smaller fire departments no longer work as the cost of fire equipment has gone up so far and fast that enough money can not be raised even if you have a fund raising event every week. Please pass this bill in order to further protect our citizens and our property in the state. Thank you.

The citizens in the Commonwealth of Virginia are becoming more vulnerable from fire because many fire departments here in Virginia lack the manpower as well as the equipment to fight fire. The prices of the equipment has gone thru the roof and many departments can't raise enough funds to operate on much less to have any left over for equipment purchases. The smaller localities do not have any funds left over from their budget because the schools, police and other services are so expensive money just doesn't go far enough to be able to help the fire departments with their budget. This is becoming a very serious problem here in Virginia and it is only a matter of time before deaths from fires will increase or we have major forest fires or commercial or industrial fires like they are experienceing in Californa. Fire departments loose members every year because of the time needed away from their families just to raise funds for the fire department. You can't have enough bingo, bake sales, golf tournaments or you name it

Good morning, I am the volunteer Chief and Town appointed Chief for New Market Fire and Rescue Inc. I am writing this in favor of HB 2069. Our organization just completed a $730 000.00 renovation of our living quarters and office area. This was too improve the female bumk room and male bunkroom areas and too create separate locker facilities. Also we upgraded our office area for our volunteers and career staff. We depend on our fundraising efforts to support our endeavors. This bill would allow us to seek funding for such a project or future projects. This would help relieve some of the pressures volunteers face in their fundraising efforts. This would also help local governments and made the burden on them and taxes that these small localities face. I ask that you support this bill as it supports your small local first responders.

I am writing in favor of HB 2069. In many localities of Southwest Virginia, the Aid to Locality Funding is the majority of departments operating budgets. The increase cost of equipment and training has grown exponentially over the years. With out these increases many departments will struggle to maintain adequate equipment to meet vastly changing needs of today's fire service. The dangers we face today have never been contemplated in previous years. The introduction of lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicles affect us all and require new techniques, equipment, and training. This is a field that will continue to grow and change. The fire service must adapt with that change which unfortunately all equates to adequate funding. I am a firm believer that governments primary function is to provide for the safety of its citizens. I ask that you stand with the firefighters of Southwest Virginia and provide the financial aid they require to adequately protect our communities. Respectfully, Chief Joshua Stitt Barren Springs Volunteer Fire Department President of the Southwest Virginia Firefighters Association

I am writing to express support for HB2069, Insurance; Fire Programs Fund; purposes; Aid to Localities Grant Program as this legislation is essential to furthering the necessary funding and support for fire departments across the Commonwealth. More specifically, facilities, mental health resources for firefighters, hiring of fire personnel and recruitment and retention programs. The fire service is Virginia is in significant need of additional funding to support the abilities of fire departments to prepare for and respond to the needs of their communities. The areas of focus mentioned are extremely important to the viability of localities such as ours to evolve to meet the demands of our community. Many Virginia communities are struggling with the funding for investing in personnel as the volunteer workforce continues to decline. Additionally, funding for the building, renovating, or expansion of facilities is critical for fire departments all across the Commonwealth. The expense with sustaining these vital facilities is often times very difficult for local governments to afford for. In closing, I ask that you please seriously consider supporting this initiative to further ensure the solidarity of Virginia's fire service for the betterment of the entire Commonwealth.

Thank you for considering this important legislation to provide more funding for fire services. As a volunteer and an insurance agent, I speak in support of the legislation. The insurance industry will talk about additional expenses for them. This is not true. They will pass this on to the consumer. Remember, in the last 3 years, the insurance industry has had no problem increasing consumer rates an average of 30% over the last 3 years. This 1% change will not hurt the consumer. It will help them. Please vote to increase funding and make sure the volunteer agencies are supported as well as the counties, towns and cities.

Please support this bill.

As President of Virginia State Firefighters Association and a volunteer chief for over 40 years I’ve seen the needs first hand of Virginia’s Fire Departments. We are facing the perfect storm, our membership has dramatically declined while the cost to do business has risen 104% in 5 years. The study from HB 2175 and validated by VCU this year shows Virginia’s Fire Service is in a crisis. In addition we’re facing looming mandates from OSHA that will further cripple our existence. If financial assistance doesn’t come soon from the state I fear many departments across the state simply will be unable to continue service. This will put many of Virginia’s citizens in pearl. Your departments do much more than fire suppression, in fact that is only a small percentage of what we do. Emergency Medical Services accounts for a majority of our calls. Approximately 59% of EMS patients are transported by fire departments. Search & Rescue, HAZMAT calls, down wires & trees blocking roads, animal rescue and the list goes on we are the one stop shop for almost all 911 calls. The burden that is placed on communities across Virginia to fund departments is not sustainable. Please help us protect Virginia families !

The Fire Progams fund is a vital program to support and provide firefighter training and equipment upgrades and has not been increased in many. many, many years. It's the only program that supports the fire service in Virginia. There has been a need to increase this for a long time as costs of everything have increased tremendously over the years and funding has not kept pace. We at Fort Lewis Volunteer Fire Department request your assistance in passing this bill to support all state firefighters. Thank You

Please give consideration to increasing the aid to localities fund for fire departments in Virginia. Expenses have become overwhelming and we need the additional funding to meet our basic needs. Thank You. Jeff Flippo, Vice President Aldie Volunteer Fire Department Aldie, Virginia