West Manchester Township Fire Department to Hire First Paid Firefighters

YORK, Pa. – In a significant shift for emergency services in the Susquehanna valley, the West Manchester Township Fire Department announced it will begin hiring paid firefighters for the first time in its nearly century-long history. The move comes as the department faces increasing call volumes and challenges in maintaining a fully volunteer force.

Addressing Rising Call Volumes and Volunteer Challenges

For 99 years,with the exception of the fire chief,the West Manchester Township Fire Department has relied entirely on volunteer firefighters [2]. However, like many volunteer fire departments across the country, West Manchester Township is experiencing a surge in emergency calls coupled with a decline in volunteer availability. This is largely attributed to changing demographics and the increasing demands on people’s time.

“The biggest reason we’re doing it is our call volume continues to increase,” explained Chief Clifton Laughman of the West Manchester Township fire Department. “Everybody’s working these first and second shifts, so it’s harder to get volunteers to turn out during the day. So we’re aiming for Monday through Friday part-time positions.”

Data reveals a substantial increase in emergency response needs. In 2016, the department responded to 718 calls. By 2025, that number had risen to 1,300 – a 78% increase [2]. This escalating demand places a significant burden on volunteer firefighters and their families.

“Asking volunteers to answer 1,300 calls a year is a very big burden on them, takes away a lot of time from their own family life,” Chief Laughman added. “So we’re hoping that this will help ease that burden a little bit.”

New Staffing Plan and Funding

The township plans to initially hire four part-time firefighters to staff each of the two fire stations with two paid personnel during peak hours, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. [2]. This will allow for faster response times and provide crucial support to the existing volunteer firefighters.

Funding for these positions will come from increased township revenue generated by new commercial developments, including a new data center and expansions of existing businesses. Township Manager Kelly Kelch stated, “We’re expecting some additional revenue, so we’re going to try to go as long as we can without any tax increase.”

Volunteers Remain Essential

Despite the addition of paid staff, the West Manchester Township Fire Department emphasizes that volunteers will remain the cornerstone of its operations. “we have a large volunteer base. I can’t thank them enough for the work that they do for me or for the community,” Chief Laughman said. “They continue to turn out day in and day out for our residents, and that’s something to be proud of.”

Recent Incidents Highlight need for Support

The need for additional resources was underscored by a series of recent incidents. In June 2025, firefighters battled a blaze at a duplex in West Manchester Township, and were called back to the area the following day for another reported fire [2]. More recently,a stubborn house fire required two days to fully extinguish,resulting in one firefighter injury and displacing five residents [3].

The implementation of this new staffing plan represents a proactive step by West Manchester Township to ensure the continued safety and well-being of its residents while supporting the dedicated volunteers who have long served the community.