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State Fire Marshal cites volunteer service strain, praises $1,500 tax credit and examines LOSAP expansion
Summary
State Fire Marshal Ken Tyree told the joint committee on Jan. 7 that the volunteer fire service remains the backbone of West Virginia emergency response, described recent program work and said the office will not propose new legislation for 2025 while it studies enhancements to length‑of‑service benefits and training supports.
Ken Tyree, State Fire Marshal, told the Joint Committee on Volunteer Fire Departments and EMS on Jan. 7 that West Virginia’s volunteer fire service answered roughly 164,000 calls in the last reported year and remains heavily dependent on volunteers even as total membership has declined from historical highs.
Tyree said the state has about 9,000 total members across roughly 423 fire departments, with approximately 8,300 volunteer members. He reported four line‑of‑duty fire service deaths in the past year. “We are not planning on proposing any new legislation for this coming legislative session,” Tyree told the committee, while outlining programs the Fire Commission and marshal’s office continue to administer and review.
Why it matters: Volunteer departments deliver most community fire and rescue services in West Virginia; changes to recruiting, retention, training and funding directly affect coverage in…
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