06/09/2026
Today, Chief Bryan Phelps, Assistant Chief Tony Cowburn, and Firefighter Tommy Priest traveled to Harrisburg and the Pennsylvania State Capitol to represent the volunteer fire service across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania during a Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee hearing.
During their testimony, they addressed the rising cost of fire apparatus and the significant impact these increasing expenses have on volunteer fire departments and the communities they serve. As equipment costs continue to climb, volunteer organizations are facing greater financial challenges while continuing to provide the same high level of emergency response and public safety services that our communities depend on.
Also providing testimony were representatives from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire, the Philadelphia Fire Department, the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs, the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, and Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner Tom Cook.
We are proud to have members of the Coudersport Volunteer Fire Department advocating for the future of the volunteer fire service and ensuring the voices of rural communities are heard at the state level. Their efforts help bring attention to the challenges facing fire departments today and work toward solutions that will strengthen emergency services and benefit the residents who depend on them every day.
Thank you to our elected officials and state leaders for providing an opportunity to discuss these important issues affecting fire departments throughout Pennsylvania.