Reserve membership considered for Jeannette Fire Department

Jeannette Fire Department may begin accepting reserve members after fire Chief Bill Frye was given the OK by council to modify the rules and regulations.

Frye said there are people with firefighter training who work in the city and have expressed interest in helping out the department during calls, as long as they have permission from their employer.

Jeannette runs the county’s only paid fire department.

“They wouldn’t necessarily be employees that work shifts,” Frye said.

Opening up the reserve member option could create a new pipeline for members with more flexibility. They may be paid a small stipend.

The department has 40 members, three of whom are full-time paid firefighters. Others can work call shifts and must maintain a specific level of training.

Reserve members would not be required to live in the city, Frye said, and would be permitted to have less training than the call and full-time firefighters.