UPPER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. — With an entirely volunteer team, Upper Macungie Township Fire & Rescue says it can be a challenge to answer emergency calls that come in around the clock.
To arrive at emergency scenes faster and well-staffed, the agency has launched a staffing incentive program that will pay "qualified and trained" volunteers to cover 12-hour shifts.
The volunteers would serve as crew officers, drivers/operators and firefighters, Upper Macungie Township Fire Commissioner Peter Christ said.
Volunteers would be paid $100 for a 12-hour shift, plus an additional $10 for each emergency to which they respond. They could earn up to $14,000 per year.Upper Macungie Township Fire Department
Volunteers would be paid a $100 stipend for a 12-hour, 6 p.m.-to-6 a.m. shift — $8.33 an hour — plus an additional $10 for each emergency to which they respond during a shift.
They could earn up to $14,000 per year, Christ said.
The Station 57 staff will serve out of Fogelsville Volunteer Fire Company, which includes a bunk room, living room, full kitchen and separate locker rooms and bathrooms for men and women.
Required qualifications for applicants are listed on the Upper Macungie Fire Department website.
Anyone interested in applying should email pchrist@uppermac.org.
“We first offered this opportunity to our volunteer firefighters in the township, but it’s also open to qualified firefighters in the Greater Lehigh Valley,” Christ said.
Across Pennsylvania, volunteer fire companies are struggling to attract and retain volunteers. In 2023, Lehigh County approved a property tax break for residents who volunteered.
'Every second counts'
Upper Macungie, among the fastest-growing communities in Pennsylvania, had 979 incidents to which it responded last year — an average of nearly three for every day of the year, according to the Fire & Rescue department.
“Our goal is for staff to leave the station within 60 seconds during the day and 120 seconds in the evening,” Christ said.
“Every second counts during an emergency, so the faster our trucks can get out the door, the more efficiently firefighters can save lives.”
The department plans to maintain four team members on all shifts, and will respond to all fire department emergencies in Upper Macungie and the primary response area of Lowhill Township.
“If you want to make a difference by contributing to the safety and well-being of our community, I encourage you to apply."Upper Macungie Township Fire Commissioner Peter Christ
Volunteers would be required to answer a wide range of calls, including alarms, home and industrial fires, motor vehicle emergencies, hazmat incidents, and search and rescue.
“We are seeking qualified and trained volunteers who are committed to fire service excellence," Christ said.
“If you want to make a difference by contributing to the safety and well-being of our community, I encourage you to apply.
“In addition to giving back, you’ll be meeting new people and making friends. Our team is really like having a second family.”
