Lawmakers are talking about giving volunteer firefighters and EMTs tax credits for things like education, travel, and to buy equipment.
Republican Sen. Patrick Testin of Stevens Point hopes the change would encourage more people to join departments and stay longer.
Kimberly Fire Chief Bob Van Thiel says in Kimberly, taxpayers cover those costs but that’s not the case for all departments.
Van Thiel doesn’t think most people understand exactly how much time volunteers put in. He says they’re always on duty, whether it’s in the middle of the night, they’re at church, or out with their family.
Testin says the average age of a volunteer firefighter is approaching 60.
