Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
INGRAM, Pa. — The Ingram Volunteer Fire Company was basically fired by a 6-1 vote of borough council tonight, prompting angry citizens and Ingram firefighters to ask who would now respond if a fire broke out.
The city of Pittsburgh’s paid professional firefighters would be answering calls, Ingram Council President Sam Nucci said.
“There will be no lapse in service,” borough solicitor Robert Garvin said.
Officials did not answer questions about how Pittsburgh’s public safety officials would immediately know that Ingram council had approved what is officially known as an Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement with Pittsburgh for fire protection services, for a fee.
Screams and boos erupted from the more than 150 residents who filled the meeting room and spilled into the hallway. Many people sobbed and hugged each other, some wearing the dark-colored dress uniforms of the volunteer fire company that has served the western suburb for more than 100 years.
“No more!” yelled one of the three Ingram police officers who rushed to the front of the room to stand between the council members and the angry audience.
Council member Jerry Ellis cast the only no vote. Voting for the contract with Pittsburgh were council Mr. Nucci, Karen Dixon, Greg Butler, Don Bennett, Samantha Wilfert and Joe Chesno.
“This is a step toward regionalism,” complained resident James Watson, one of many residents who spoke to extol the virtues of small communities and local control.
Residents and VFD Chief Don Browning have said the city contract will be more expensive than services provided by volunteers.
“We can absolutely afford either option [the city contract or the local volunteers] without a tax increase,” Mr. Nucci said.
Ingram will pay Pittsburgh $459,170 over five years.
After the meeting, Chief Browning said the volunteer company costs the borough about $73,000 a year — or $365,000 over five years.
Council members and Mayor Sharon Stetz have largely declined to elaborate about why they wanted to drop the volunteer company. They have said they have concerns about public safety.
“You are breaking my heart,” said Eileen Taylor, who said the volunteers have answered five calls to her house in 15 years. Pittsburgh firefighters will not provide many of the services provided by local volunteers, she said, including “the Halloween parade that is my kids’ favorite thing” and other community activities where the firefighters show up with their trucks.
At an earlier presentation, Pittsburgh officials said that they would not stay around for hours to completely pump out flooded basements, as the volunteers do, another resident said. Professional firemen will stay on the scene long enough to prevent an emergency, Pittsburgh officials said.
Ingram borders the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Fairywood, Crafton Heights and Windgap. The suburb has 3,300 residents and the volunteer company had 30 members and mutual aid pacts with other fire companies, including Pittsburgh.
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