This following is an editorial concerning something that has been becoming more commonplace, around the nation and around Pennsylvania. Consolidation of public safety resources has become an imperative in an era of increased costs, sagging revenues and reductions in volunteers. This May 24, 2011 editorial from The Tribune-Democrat, “Merger should sound no alarms – We applaud Southmont, Upper Yoder firefighters” commends and applauds two communities as their volunteer fire companies went through the merger process.

“JOHNSTOWN — We congratulate the leaders of the Southmont and Upper Yoder Township volunteer fire companies for making what must have been an agonizing decision.

By June 1, 2012, the fire companies expect to be one department.

Memberships continue to decline, along with the communities’ populations and the abilities of each company to raise necessary operating funds – although each says it’s financially stable.

“We would become one entity to better protect the citizens of Upper Yoder and Southmont,” Tim Reitz, Upper Yoder chief, told reporter Frank Sojak.

But the story does go deeper than that.

For area residents not familiar with the history of our volunteer fire companies, their halls long have been social focal points. The companies have operated on a huge sense of pride, and although they cooperate with neighboring firefighters in times of emergencies, a competitive spirit has always prevailed.

Each would tell you its firefighters were the best, its apparatus the best money could buy.

Times have changed.

Days of each community having its own fleet of modern fire trucks manned by dozens of eager volunteers are mostly over.

“The key factor is a manpower issue,” Southmont fire Chief Mike Leckey said, adding, “we have quite a way to go to achieve consolidation.”

That’s because they’re doing it the right way:

• A news release has been issued to notify the public about the consolidation.
• A public forum will be scheduled later this year to discuss the matter with residents.
• They’ve formed a planning committee made up of an equal number of representatives from each fire company, plus an equal number of residents and elected officials from each municipality.

Initially, both fire halls will remain open: The move to one building might not happen for five to 10 years, Leckey said.

Who knows what other changes could happen by then?

Through a merger, the companies hope to:

• Maximize the manpower and hopefully attract more members. (Upper Yoder has 30 active members and Southmont, 18.)
• Avoid duplication of equipment, maximizing funds available. The two companies own a total of four fire engines. It’s hoped that can be reduced to two.
• Enhance their ability to attract state and federal grants. Consolidation of these neighboring companies makes a lot of sense.

They’ve worked together throughout each’s history.

The move to combine fire services is the second in the West Hills this year.

In April, the West Hills Regional Fire Department and the Ferndale Volunteer Fire Company agreed to a merger, effective Jan. 1.

We expect there will be more. Manpower and money are among the critical issues facing nearly all of our volunteer fire services.

We urge residents of all of these communities to help their firefighters make smooth transitions through these important and difficult ventures, both by making suggestions and sharing concerns.

But more importantly, we urge every household to support these volunteers – with their dollars and their encouragement.

Communities cannot survive without fire companies and the men and women who so generously give of their time and abilities to serve.

[EDITOR’S NOTE:The fire companies mentioned in this editorial; the fire companies that consolidated to form Blue Rock Fire District and other consolidation initiatives across the country almost unilaterally include citizens in the consolidation process. We wonder why there are no citizens (non-fire company personnel) involved in the preliminary consolidation process in Columbia.]

FEDERAL POLITICIANS CONTINUE TOWARD CUTTING FIRE RELATED PROGRAMS: House politicians moved their first two 2012 appropriations bills through committee today amid fights with other committee members over deep cuts to disaster aid that come as Missouri grapples with a devastating tornado. The Homeland Security appropriations bill, which included cuts to disaster aid and Firefighter funding, was approved on a party-line vote. The measure would cut $1.07 billion from fiscal 2011 levels, and about $3 billion from President Obama’s request for next year. Rep. David Price offered amendments to the Homeland Security bill to reverse cuts to disaster aid and firefighter assistance grants, but both failed on largely party-line votes. The first amendment would have restored $460 million for the firefighter grants, bringing funding up to last year’s levels and reversing a 65 percent cut. The second amendment would have restored cuts to state and local FEMA programs as well as the Firefighter program. With the cuts, FEMA state and local programs would be reduced by 55 percent compared to levels for fiscal 2011, and by 70 percent compared to fiscal 2010.  READ MORE HERE.