Fire company mergers becoming more common

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April 11, 2009

By KATHY MELLOTT The Tribune-Democrat Sat Apr 11, 2009, 11:50 PM EDT

Last week, the state Department of Community and Economic Development received 17 requests from volunteer fire companies seeking assistance to merge.

“I think that speaks volumes,” said Jamie Fulginiti, DCED spokeswoman. “We feel mergers make fire companies more efficient. We feel it’s better use of manpower for the fire company and better use of resources.”

Nine years ago, the Richland and Solomon Run fire companies merged. Three years later the Belmont Fire Company came on board.

Late last year, Richland Township took command of the Geistown Fire Company at the request of Geistown Borough Council. A fire commission was formed and there are ongoing meetings with Geistown officials, said Robert Heffelfinger, a Richland Township supervisor.

The combined efforts have been what Heffelfinger called a “resounding success.”

“It’s certainly an initiative that every municipality should take a look at,” said Heffelfinger, former Richland fire company president and current chief safety officer.

“They will realize an improvement in service,” he said. “And while it may not cost less, there is an improvement in how the money is spent.”

Gone is the sense of competition. Joining forces ends the practice of duplicating equipment.

Former Solomon Run President George McCombie said he remains convinced it was the best thing to do.

“It’s gone great; it’s something we should have done before,” he said, “There are more hands to share the burden and we don’t have the competition you can have between two fire companies.”

In 2006, the Westmont and Brownstown fire companies merged to become West Hills Regional Fire Department – a positive move, said fire company Chief Don Blasko.

Blasko said communication is key.

“We have a real good working relationship with both councils in Brownstown and Westmont,” he said.

Along with better use of fire company money, the residents are benefiting because of the quicker response with full units when the alarm sounds, he said.

Property owners served by the company have seen a reduction in their fire insurance bills, the result of better ratings issued by ISO Properties Inc., a company that ranks fire protection.

Meanwhile, Heffelfinger said the state should require all municipalities to participate in a study to at least look at merging fire services.

“If Portage and Cassandra merge, I think you will see another gem,” he said.

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