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Keystone Valley Fire Department
History
On March 19th, 2013 the Pomeroy-Parkesburg-Atglen Fire Companies took a vote and offically became the Keystone Valley Fire Department of Chester County Pennsylvania.
This date was the Offical start date of our consolidated Fire Department. The consolidation was a detailed and thought out process in our indivdual companies history involving of a combination of meetings from 2009-2013.
With technical assistance from state government, the Atglen, Parkesburg, and Pomeroy fire companies in Chester County will consolidate operations by early 2013 to improve services and reduce costs to taxpayers. It will be known as the Keystone Valley Fire Department.
"Consolidation is a viable option for fire companies that are having difficulties meeting budgets and recruiting volunteers," said Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary C. Alan Walker. "Today's announcement will result in cost-saving efficiencies and a stronger base of more than 70 volunteers."
The newly unified department will receive integrated training and operational procedures to better serve the region. It will provide a more-coordinated operation at a reduced cost to Highland, West Sadsbury and Sadsbury townships, and Parkesburg borough in Chester County.
"It has become clear that the combined efforts of the Parkesburg, Pomeroy and Atglen fire departments will supply a level of service to the citizens of this region that can be the template for future consolidations around the state," said West Sadsbury Township supervisor Frank Haas.
After combining vehicles and equipment inventories, the new company will have a total of 18 available apparatus for service. The consolidation of resources will save Keystone Valley more than $188,000 annually and produce more than $1.8 million in long-term savings. Consolidating services will allow the unified company to improve its emergency response time to the surrounding communities.
"The consolidation was made possible by the coordinated efforts of the fire companies and the municipalities to achieve one goal: to enhance and ensure consistent and efficient emergency services in the area served by Keystone Valley Fire Company," said Sadsbury Township supervisor Stephanie Silvernail.
The Governor's Center for Local Government Services (GCLGS), housed within DCED, aided with the consolidation. GCLGS provides technical resources and assistance for companies considering merger, consolidation, regional efforts and also serves as a resource for local government officials, developers, and citizens interested in planning to improve, grow and enhance communities.
On Monday evening April 23, 2012 at 1900 hours the Members of the Atglen, Parkesburg, and Pomeroy Fire Companies met at the Parkesburg Fire Company for the First joint Consolidated Fire Company Meeting. This meeting brought the 3 Companies together to hear a presentation from the Fire District Facilitator Russ Guthrie and Rob Brady from the Department of Community and Economic Development and choose a new Department name and discuss how the members wanted the new Administration to be set up. 71 members from the 3 Companies showed up to listen and to be heard, along with the new Fire Districts Chairperson and West Sadsbury Township supervisor Frank Haas.
Rob Brady spoke of the dwindling number of Volunteer Fire and EMS Personnel throughout the Commonwealth and how the number had decreased from 300,000 in 1974 to only 50,000 in 2010. He stated that the figures show by 2020 there will be "NO" Volunteers unless more is done to help, like the consolidation that these 3 Fire Companies are doing. Russ and Rob also showed that the Municipalities involved; Parkesburg, Sadsbury, Highland and West Sadsbury are getting their Fire and EMS Services for approx. 34 cents on the dollar, so to put that into perspective that means that these Municipalities contribute approx. $177,000 to the 3 Fire Companies this includes Workers Comp. Insurance, and the 3 Fire Companies have to make up the rest of their combined budgets of over $400,000 in fund raisers. So, with that being said the average Firefighter and EMT spends almost 80% of his or her time raising money instead of Training or Fighting fires or Saving lives, hence the decline in volunteers here and throughout the Commonwealth.
After Rob and Russ gave their presentation trying to bring the members up to speed as to what has taken place so far, Tim Reynolds from Parkesburg Fire Company and a member of the new Departments By-laws committee spoke about where the committee was, and where they felt the Companies wanted them to go.
The first order of business the Committee wanted the membership to decide, which needed to be done in order to obtain a new 501c3 was a Department name. A list of approx. 14 names was given to each member to vote on, from those 14, 2 top choices were determined, Iron Rails Fire Department and Keystone Valley Fire Department. The committee then had the membership vote on those 2 names and with a slim margin Keystone Valley was determined to become the new Department name. Pomeroy and Atlgen Fire Companies had previously voted in Company meetings for this name and Parkesburg will vote at their monthly company meeting in April. Once this name is officially accepted, it will help spur further movement in the development of the New District and Department, Charters can be applied for and all legal documentation and procedures can move forward without trouble.
The other cause of concern for the By-laws committee was the Administrative structure, did the new department want to stay with the same structure we all run with now; President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasure and Trustees, or did the members want to go with a Board of Directors? This question was discussed with most members wanting a business model to be followed and a Board of Directors to be elected. With a show of hands the majority of the membership chose to follow a business model with a Board of Directors with 2 members from each station elected to serve on the Board.
On this date, March 19 2013, The Atglen, Parkesburg and Pomeroy Fire Companies were placed Out Of Service with the Chester County DES. The Keystone Valley Fire Department was placed into service as Chester County Station #8 at 1000 Hrs this morning. This marks a huge milestone for all the members as years of hard work, paperwork and countless meetings and studies, have culminated to the end result that all were seeking. The temporary officers are as listed below until elections are held in April for the first group of KVFD officers. Also below, you will find the current Apparatus designators for CCDES.
Keystone Valley Fire Department
Unit Designation Changes:
PARKESBURG (Central Station):
Rescue 28 to Rescue 8
Ladder 28 to Ladder 8
Traffic 28 to Traffic 8
Squad 28 to Squad 8
Ambulance 28 to Ambulance 8
POMEROY (East -Station):
Engine 29-1 to Engine 8-1
Engine 29-5 to Engine 8-3
Brush 29 to Brush 8
ATGLEN (West- Station):
Engine 26-1or 3 to Engine 8-2
Tanker 26 to Tanker 8
QRS 26 to Tac 8
Keystone Valley Regional Fire District was recognized with the Governor's Award for its intergovernmental cooperation through the consolidation of three fire companies to become the Keystone Valley Fire Department.
Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley, on behalf of Gov. Tom Corbett, recognized municipalities and local government officials on April 15 around the state for their dedication and commitment to strengthen their communities and better serve their residents.
The fire department covers Sadsbury, West Sadsbury and Highland townships and Parkesburg Borough. The successful consolidation of Pomeroy, Parkesburg and Atglen fire companies was a result of municipal cooperation and will provide local communities with a stronger emergency service presence at a reduced cost. The fire department's service became operational March 19 out of the Parkesburg station.
"The governor and I understand the immense responsibility you all have to provide solutions that make your community a vibrant place to live, work and raise a family," Cawley said. "Today is recognition of your dedication to public service and a celebration of leadership and innovation that has resulted in vibrant communities for the citizens you serve."
The recognitions were part of the 17th annual Governor's Awards for Local Government Excellence. In total, eight local government leaders and 12 communities across the state received awards that were presented at the state capitol in Harrisburg.
The Governor's Awards for Local Government Excellence are presented annually to communities and individuals by the Governor's Center for Local Government Services, an office within the Department of Community and Economic Development that works to assist Pennsylvania's 2,562 local governments.
A panel of judges from the office reviewed applications submitted by municipal organizations and officials from across the state and selected the award recipients.
The Regional Fire District is comprised of Representation from West Sadsbury Twp., Parkesburg Borough, Highland Township, and Sadsbury Township and the KVFD.
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