Stopping Service to areas

[Preston]

Our volunteer fire dept. currently serves a tri-county area. In the area in question we serve over 475 houses and 130 miles of roads.
We have never recieved any monetary contributions from this county. The county has now decided to give a share of a tax to the fire depts. in that county for the homes they cover. This will amount to between $1000.00 to $3000.00 per month for each dept.
Now the question, can we reasonably expect to recieve compensation for the homes we cover? We are the only dept that can feasably serve this area. The next closest dept. is 18-20 minutes away. We offer them a class 6 ISO where as the next dept is a 9. We are considering the complete shutoff of service to this area if no agreement is reached.
We have contacted county officials, fire associations as well as state and federal officials and no help as of yet.
What would you do?

[AVF&R452]

Preston:

It would seem that if you are first due in that area, that you would be entitled to the funds. My suggestion would be to approach the people in the area that you protect. have them approach the county officials on your behalf.

I CAUTION YOU TO AVOID THE THREAT OF WITHOLDING SERVICE TO THESE AREAS. THIS COULD TURN UGLY FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT. LEAVING PEOPLE WITHOUT FIRE PROTECTION WILL NOT HELP YOUR CAUSE!!!!

For an example of how NOT to proceed, I suggest you look at the posts about the volunteer "strike" in Donora, PA a few months back.

Good luck,
Jim

[JAMESBENNETT]

IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOUR CONCERN IS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SERVE AND THEY ARE YOUR TOOLS TO SOLVING THE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH MOST PEOPLE ARE FAIRLY PASSIVE WHEN YOU START TALKING TO THEM ABOUT POLITICS, MAYBE YOU SHOULD START BY TALKING WITH A FEW OF THESE POEPLE AND LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THE COUNTY IS NOW ALLOTING THIS MONEY TO FIRE PROTECTION. ONCE THEY DISCOVER THAT THERE GOVERNMENT IS DIPPING INTO THERE POCKET TO PAY FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S BILL, THEN YOU WILL GET THIER ATTENTION. THE SOLUTION IS SIMPLE, IF THEY DON'T WANT TO ALLOT YOUR DEPARTMENT THE MONEY, THEN THEY SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT THE PROTECTION LEVEL FOR THAT AREA IS UPGRADED TO THESE PEOPLES CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE. EITHER WAY THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUITY ARE WINNERS AND THEY ARE THE ONES THAT COUNT.
AS FAR AS STOPPING SERVICE TO THESE PEOPLE I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO GO. IF YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS PROVIDED SERVICE TO THIS AREA FOR THIS LONG WITHOUT FUNDING THEN DOING IT UNTIL THEY CAN TAKE ACTION ON THIS PROBLEM IS MORE THAN LIKELY THE BEST ANSWER.

[capt103]

been there done that,,,we all lost..
several years ago the city and county got into it.the city had figured where it was costing use 275.00 hr to have a truck with one career firefighter and five vollies fight fires in county.at that time they were only paying 75.00 a run.. we were averageing 400 calls a yr to county..now we get 500.00 a call but we only make about 75 calls a yr. the county figured it was cheaper to start lots of small vol. depts. and pay who ever was first response and mutal aid companies get no pay...guess who lost...PLEASE dont play that game..work out a reasonable agreement with the powers to be..

[F02]

Like they said talk to the people.The first to talk to are the one's you've responded to in the past.Nothing like an emergency to make people REALY appreciate you.There the ones that will raise he!! with the politicions.