Lancaster Online
COLUMBIA, Pa. — Twice in the past week, one of Columbia’s three fire companies didn’t respond to a call because of a lack of volunteers, said a top fire official who supports merging the departments.
The two calls to struggling Columbia Consolidated Fire Department turned out to be minor and didn’t involve fire, but Chief Scott Ryno, who oversees the three independent companies, said he’s taking action to remedy the potential danger. Ryno highlighted Consolidated’s problematic call responses at borough council Monday as members discussed how to get the fire department to cooperate with merger talks.
In July, council set an April 1, 2015 deadlinefor merger of Consolidated with Columbia No. 1 and Susquehanna fire companies, but Consolidated has not submitted an agreement. Council voted unanimously Monday to give Consolidated until Oct. 21 to sign an agreement or immediately be put out of service. Merger talks have gone on for six years.
Full story: Short of volunteers, Columbia Consolidated Fire Company missing calls