By Rick Wills
The Pittsburgh Tribune Review
STOWE, Pa. — A volunteer fire department that has operated in Stowe for more than a century could soon be in the odd position of looking to serve a new municipality.
Like many other fire and EMS departments across the state, Stowe plans to consolidate its three volunteer fire departments, the goal being to improve efficiency and save money.
While two of the township’s fire departments say they have no problem with the merger, the third — the 104-year-old Presston Volunteer Fire Department — is balking.
By consolidating, Presston officials say they would be forced to assume the other companies’ debt, which they say is hundreds of thousands of dollars higher than their own. They say they would be forced to turn over their engines and close their bank accounts.
“We are sending notice to commissioners ... that we will not consolidate. Our membership does not believe that consolidation is warranted. They will lose a fire department over this,” said Kevin Kochirka, Presston’s president.
Kochirka said he would notify the township by the end of today that the department would not consolidate.
Consolidation would, Presston officials contend, cost taxpayers more and limit response time to fires, according to a letter sent last week to neighborhood residents.
“To keep us open, they would have to spend $15,000 per year and pay to insure our two engines. Now they will wind up spending more without us,” Kochirka said.
Michael Stepek Jr., Presston’s chief and a fourth-generation firefighter, is equally adamant. “People need to see what’s happening. They are going to take anything we have away.
The merged West Park Volunteer Fire Department and the Fleming Park Volunteer Fire Department eventually will work out of a new fire house, renovation of which is largely being funded with government grants. The consolidation proposal called for Presston to remain open as a substation.
Others say that municipalities that consolidate public services almost always save money over the long haul.
“The boroughs and townships that have done this have seen savings. It’s also easier to raise money as one fire department, and you do not need as much equipment,” said State Sen. Wayne Fontana, a Brookline Democrat who represents Stowe and assisted in getting the state grant.
Stowe has received more than $300,000 in state and Allegheny County grants to finance the consolidation.
There are more than 100 municipal police departments and more than 200 volunteer fire departments in Allegheny County. The county’s chief executive, Dan Onorato, is promoting consolidation.
Howard Duerr, president of Stowe’s board of commissioners, declined to comment, citing a gag order on court-ordered mediation that ended last week. Mediator Ann Begler declined comment.
Presston and the township entered mediation earlier this year after the fire department sued to remain open.
Presston officials say they are being forced into consolidation by the township’s commissioners. Otherwise, the department could close or look for a municipality to sponsor it — the closest are McKees Rocks, Kennedy and Neville Island.
Any fire department in Pennsylvania must be certified by a municipality. “Case law says municipalities have the right to govern fire protection,” said John Rushford, Stowe’s attorney.
Since 1998, there have been about 75 consolidations and mergers of fire and EMS departments in Pennsylvania, affecting some 162 fire and EMS organizations, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
“Manpower and financial reasons are the biggest reasons communities move to consolidate,” said Rob Brady, a local policy specialist who coordinates mergers for the department.
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