A review of the draft report for developing a regional approach to fire protection and emergency medical services is in progress.
Last year, officials in Kennett Square Borough and Kennett, Pocopson, Pennsbury, East Marlborough Township and Newlin townships – the areas served by Longwood, Kennett and Po-Mar-Lin Fire companies – agreed to share the cost of a study done by VFIS Education, Training and Consulting of York.
The draft was discussed with the three fire companies on Tuesday, Sept. 20, according to a press release from the townships.
The study was prompted by recent statewide data that identified trends and reasons to consolidate, evaluate, and strategically plan for fire and emergency medical services, including a decrease in volunteers, rising costs, duplication of equipment and increased demands for services, the release said.
Officials said they hoped that by creating a strategic multi-municipal approach to providing these services in a single business model that the municipalities could more efficiently and effectively determine needs, costs, and meet the changing challenges.
“Today there are three agencies that provide independent services of firefighting, rescue, hazardous materials management, storm management services, fire and injury prevention education, support to community social activities, and emergency medical services to the six communities involved, each with separate business plans and budgets,” Bill Jenaway, vice president of VFIS, said in the release. “By looking at the region, there are opportunities to create a more efficient and effective delivery system for the people who live, work and leisure in the six communities; as opposed to individual municipal and fire company approaches.
“Throughout the state we have seen this process repeated consistently to also help fire and EMS agencies who are struggling with response, training, and funding,” Jenaway added. “It works.”
The three fire companies were provided a review of the draft information to provide comments before the report is finalized and made public. The three agencies had previously provided information and met with representatives of the consulting team at the stations, the release said.
“This draft document and presentation are the first step,” commented Jenaway. “The further discussions will no doubt result in tweaking of the recommendations and approaches, but the goal of enhanced public safety for the region will result.”
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