CHARLESTON – The Joint Committee on Volunteer Fire Departments and Emergency Medical Services of the West Virginia Legislature will host a series of listening sessions throughout the state this week.
The goal of the listening tour is to connect citizens with members of the committee to hear concerns and discuss potential solutions relating to issues that face the volunteer fire department and emergency medical services community. During the Committee’s previous meetings in Charleston, it has addressed issues including recruitment and retention, funding issues, training, and cancer presumptions, which is a concern that both career and volunteer firefighters must face.
“We owe such a tremendous debt of gratitude to these men and women who selflessly give their time to protect and serve our communities,” Senator Greg Boso, R-Nicholas, said. “As a volunteer firefighter myself, I see and hear these concerns constantly, and it’s my hope that by taking our Committee meetings on the road, we’ll be able to get input from folks who aren’t always able to make it to Charleston. We’re truly looking for as much input as we can get as we begin to craft legislation for the upcoming session.”
The listening sessions are open to the public. The schedule is: