By Jade Campos
LNP
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — Three Lancaster County fire companies last month announced a plan to join forces in response to the manpower crisis that’s affecting volunteer departments across the state.
The Lafayette and Witmer fire companies, both located in East Lampeter Township, along with the Upper Leacock fire company, said they plan to form a “fire-rescue compact.” Officials said the fire companies will share personnel and resources while also training together, but the departments will remain separate entities.
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Sam Huber, chief of Upper Leacock Fire Company, said the compact will help preserve the company’s volunteer model. He said a growing list of training requirements is a big reason that volunteer departments are struggling to recruit.
“We just want to formalize that we’re going to work together as a brotherhood and strengthen the operation for all three of us,” Huber said.
But Jeff Keens, assistant chief for Lafayette Fire Company, on Tuesday said the compact still needs to be reviewed by officials from the two East Lampeter fire companies, as well as township officials. Until then, he said, the proposal is suspended.
The compact, if approved, would function similarly to a mutual aid agreement, in which neighboring fire departments join calls outside their district when another fire company needs help.
Huber said the compact is a way to put off hiring professional fire staff for as long as possible, a costly step that many municipalities across the state are facing as volunteerism dwindles in local fire departments.
Some local companies have gone further and consolidated. Reamstown and Smokestown fire companies in East Cocalico Township last year formally merged into one department, and West Hempfield Township and Mountville Borough are in the process of consolidating their departments.
Huber said Upper Leacock’s struggles with recruiting prompted an attempt to merge with another neighboring fire department. After the effort fell through, he asked to join with Witmer and Lafayette to form a compact.
Huber said his members are excited for the partnership, though leaders agreed to take “one step at a time” to allow members to build trust.
Attempts to reach officials from Witmer Fire Protective Association were unsuccessful, though Chief Michael Creamer has emphasized the independence of each department.
“No agency stands above or below another; instead, we’re moving forward together with a common purpose and a team-first mindset,” Creamer said in a news release.
Financial question
East Lampeter Township Manager Tara Hitchens said township leaders were not involved in the talks and were not informed about the agreement’s existence until late August.
Hitchens said the township is not opposed to the partnership but has concerns about existing funding agreements with the two departments within its boundaries, Witmer and Lafayette.
The township plans to donate nearly $300,000 across the Hand in Hand, Ronks, Lafayette and Witmer fire companies in 2025, according to its budget. The township also reimburses the fire companies for workers’ compensation insurance ($47,000 is budgeted for 2025). That funding is not currently planned to be shared with the Upper Leacock Township department.
Hitchens noted that firetrucks and equipment that the township helps pay for would frequently be asked to answer calls in Upper Leacock, posing a resource crunch if crews are needed in East Lampeter at the same time.
Still, she said, the compact could be a meaningful solution to volunteer recruitment woes, but more discussion is needed.
“We need to find creative ways we can work together,” Hitchens said.
Keens, of Lafayette Fire Company, said fire officials plan to discuss the compact with township leaders before it takes effect. He would not provide more information on what details need to be worked out.
Huber said the fire companies have always supported each other through mutual aid agreements, and the compact would not force any major changes. Each company would look out for its community first before it travels to another area, he said.
Upper Leacock Township Manager Michael Morris in an email deferred comment to the fire chiefs.
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