West Virginia Volunteer Fire Departments Seek Funding

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West Virginia’s volunteer fire departments are turning to state lawmakers for help with insurance and recruitment.

A bipartisan House bill introduced this week would tap liquor revenues to provide $5 million a year for these volunteer departments.

Most West Virginia fire departments are volunteer. Up to $3 million a year would help them pay workers’ compensation premium increases. If available funds can’t cover all the increases, departments would get money based on hardship.

What remains of the annual amount would help departments find and keep firefighters. These incentives could include academic scholarships and length of service awards.

Acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has proposed a total $5 million for volunteer departments this year and next.