Mont Clare Fire Company Given 60-day Extension on Compliance

Upper Providence Township officials are making moves to encourage the consolidation of the Oaks Fire Company and the Mont Clare Fire Company.

At the Feb. 22 board of supervisors meeting, the board passed a resolution stating that all fire six fire companies serving the township must have three officers who meet township training standards issued by the Fire and Emergency Services Board.

Those not meeting the guidelines will lose their primary response district, in addition to other penalties.

“While these fire companies will still be dispatched to emergencies, they will not have command control of the emergency scene and they will be regarded as a mutual aid company,” Township Manager George Waterman read from the resolution at the meeting. “In addition, affected fire companies will forfeit all township funding until a minimum of three chief officers meet the township training qualification standards.”

The resolution passed unanimously, with the addition of a 60-day extension for Mont Clare Fire Company to reach compliance.

Reached by phone Monday, Assistant Township Manager Lee Milligan said the guidelines for chief officer training for companies serving Upper Providence have been in place for two years.

“We’ve had two years,” Milligan said. “This hasn’t been a secret. Other companies have been taking the steps to meet the guidelines.”

Milligan said that of the six companies who serve the township, others may need to take some steps to comply, as well. For some of the officers, it might be a matter of simply submitting paperwork, Milligan said. The officers might have had the necessary training, but didn’t submit the documentation to prove it to the township.

Milligan said it’s definitely possible for Mont Clare Fire Company to get in step with the guidelines within 60 days. What training is needed depends on the individuals. Some may have to take a few classes or just need to submit paperwork, while others have more work ahead of them.

“They could sign up new members who come in with the proper certifications,” Milligan said.

The resolution passed Tuesday ended with an eye toward consolidation.

“The board of supervisors encourages fire companies operating within Upper Providence Township to take steps toward consolidation of operations in order to achieve efficient use of funding, facilities, equipment and manpower,” Waterman read.

Milligan said while it was his understanding that some preliminary talks between Oaks Fire Company and Mont Clare Fire Company officials have taken place, the township hasn’t been involved in those negotiations.

“We want to take a more active role in the consolidation,” Milligan said.

Each of the two companies within the township—Mont Clare Fire Company and Oaks Fire Company—receive a base funding each year of $60,000. Beyond that, additional funding is determined by the number of calls within the township each company responded to, Milligan said. The other four companies serving the township receive funds based on the number of calls each responds to in the township.

Editor's note: This story has been changed. Originally, it said that each of the six companies serving the township recieve a base of $60,000 per year. That was incorrect. The two companies within the township receive the $60,000 base and an amount based on the number of responses. The remaining four receive funding based on the number of township calls they respond to.