At the sound of an alarm, volunteer firefighters and other emergency responders move quickly into action. First thing in the morning, in the middle of the night, during the 6 p.m. news, they are the first responders. In the case of an emergency, we don't have to think twice about their coming to our rescue and dropping everything to help.

But volunteer fire and ambulance companies rely on us just as much as we rely on them. I am proud to say I voted for a bill that was signed into law last year that extends the state's Volunteer Fire Company and Ambulance Service Grant Program through the year 2012.

The program provides $25 million in grants each year to volunteer fire and ambulance companies throughout Pennsylvania.

That money helps to buy new and more equipment, make repairs to fire stations and facilities, and allow for further volunteer training.

While it goes a long way to help, it's just one part of the equation. We need to do more to help fire companies and ambulance companies recruit new volunteers and retain current volunteers.

In just the past 20 years, the number of volunteers has decreased by an alarming number. Pennsylvania has 2,462 fire companies; nearly 2,215 are volunteer.

Since 1985, the total number of volunteers in these companies has shrunk by nearly half, from 152,000 to 82,000, taking the average number of volunteers for each company from 68 to just 37. And yet, communities continue to rely on their services as much as ever.

This affects you as much as it does our volunteer fire and ambulance companies.

Because they are non-paid departments, their services save Pennsylvania residents millions in taxes.

That is why I am urging support for, and passage of, a package of bills to improve fire and emergency medical services in the Commonwealth.

All told, there are 23 different pieces of legislation in this package that deal with a variety of issues associated with these services.

Two bills offered by state Sen. Lisa Baker address recruitment and retention of fire and emergency services personnel.

The first bill, S.B. 1314, would provide a $500 tax credit for active volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel who are certified by the state fire commissioner or the director of the emergency medical services office in the Department of Health.

The other, S.B. 1316, would provide a $1,000 business tax credit for each volunteer fire and emergency services member employed. Under the bill, the credit could be used against the following three taxes: the company's income tax, the corporate net income tax, or the capital stock and franchise tax. The credit for each tax year would not exceed $5,000 per employer.

Offering financial incentives for volunteers and employers is one way to address the issue of recruiting and retaining volunteers.

Part of the problem has undoubtedly been financial. Everyone faces day-to-day issues that require time and money, but I feel these bills could help achieve a balance in the lives of thousands of current and prospective volunteers.

In supporting these bills we can do our part in helping those who help us. Voice your support for these bills by contacting at my Coraopolis office at 412-264-4260 or send an e-mail through my Web site at www.pahouse.com/kotik.