There has been a lot of talk over the past decade about the decreasing number of volunteer fire departments.

According to Mayor Maurice Cashman, the number of EMTs has dropped from 34,000 to 29,000 in Pennsylvania in the last 10 years while the number of paramedics has decreased from 12,000 to 6,700.

Rather than just talk, Warren and Pleasant Township officials have taken action — albeit temporarily and pending approval by Pleasant Township officials.

Warren will place two city EMTs at Pleasant’s station from 7:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31 and use Pleasant’s equipment to respond to calls in the township. The township would pay a little less than $5,000 a month for the EMS coverage.

City EMTs are responding regularly to calls in Pleasant Township, whose volunteers are often unable to respond to as many as 80% of the calls it receives during weekdays.

When Warren responds to those calls now, though, the city receives no revenue. The proposed agreement would bring Warren much-needed revenue while providing a life-saving service to Pleasant Township residents.

We can’t tell you right now how this agreement will play out, but we hope Pleasant officials agree to the pilot agreement.

City and township residents deserve to see if such an agreement can benefit everyone involved.