Justin Pizzulli, State Rep

To be clear, this change did not come from the Ohio General Assembly. It was made through an administrative decision by the State Board of Emergency Medical, Fire, and Transportation Services. But we can and should fix it.

No one is against better training for our firefighters. But this is another example of a one-size-fits-all approach that treats rural Ohio like our largest cities.

For decades, the 36-hour entry-level volunteer firefighter program has helped small departments recruit neighbors with full-time jobs, farms, businesses, and families. Requiring hundreds of hours of training before they can serve may work for full-time urban departments, but it creates real challenges for volunteer departments that already struggle to recruit.

Looking forward: Will Ohio's volunteer fire departments survive? The majority of Ohio's volunteer fire departments are staffed by volunteers. While the number of volunteers is decreasing, the number of calls those departments have to respond to is increasing.

Tired of blocked railroad crossings?

I am excited to join Rep Hall in introducing legislation to create Designated Access Routes, ensuring firefighters, EMS, and law enforcement have reliable access when every second counts while balancing the operational needs of our railroads.

Happy Birthday America! 🇺🇸