IN Ross Township Fall 2019 | Page 40

ROSS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS NEED YOUR SUPPORT Dan DeMarco Vice President/Board of Commissioners The men and women of our eight volunteer fire departments in Ross Township are examples of unique, unselfish and dedicated individuals who risk their lives on a regular basis to protect and save lives and property in Ross Township. Remarkably, they do it without any compensation while devoting hundreds of hours every year to maintaining equipment and attending training drills and classes. I have been asked in the past about the motivation of these men and women to put their lives on the line as volunteers. As a former firefighter with the Berkeley Hills Fire Company, and as the Ross commissioner liaison with our eight fire departments, I can confidently say that a strong sense of civic pride and responsibility motivates them to undertake this hazardous, but necessary, duty. However, despite their dedication, our volunteer fire departments are struggling to maintain an adequate number of members to provide fire protection in Ross Township. The social and economic climate facing our residents today makes it difficult to find enough extra time in their lives to become volunteers. Many job duties in the departments do not require actual firefighting. Administrative, accounting, clerical, and information technology experience is needed by all of the fire departments. And there are some benefits for individuals who join. In 2016 the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed, and Governor Wolf signed, Act 172 which provides a real estate tax credit or earned income tax credit to volunteer firefighters. In 2016 Ross Township approved an earned income tax credit of $300 per certified volunteer. Additionally, there is a scholarship program offered by Allegheny County for volunteers. New and veteran volunteers can apply for one of 200 scholarships offered annually at the Community College of Allegheny County for associate degrees and certificate programs. It is known as Allegheny County Fire Volunteer Education, Service & Training Scholarship Program (FireVEST). Details about the scholarships can be found at https://www.ccac.edu/FireVEST_Scholarship_Program.aspx. In addition to addressing the need to increase members, the amount of money the fire departments require on an annual basis to maintain and purchase new firefighting equipment continues to be an area of concern. Ross Township contributes money to each fire department every year and will give $71,875 to each department this year. However, this amount will cover less than half of the overall projected expenses in 2020 for several of the fire departments. It is important that residents and businesses understand that Ross Township does not levy a separate tax on residents and businesses to fund our fire departments. The amount given to each department annually comes from the Ross Township general budget as a separate line item. This amounts to a total of only $575,000 for the equipment and operational cost for all eight fire departments. It has been estimated by our fire departments that if every business and household contributed $25 a year to the fire department that is assigned as that household’s or business’s primary department, the fire departments could comfortably 38 ROSS TOWNSHIP maintain and purchase the equipment required to provide the best possible fire protection. Based on many increased costs, our fire departments are struggling to keep their equipment in good working order with the revenue received from Ross Township, and through sources of revenue such as fundraising events and the donations they do receive from less than 30% of residents and less than 5% of businesses. I am therefore presenting a simple challenge to every household and business in Ross Township: Please contribute $25 to your fire department no later than December 31, 2019. If you do not know in which fire district you are located, please call the Ross Township fire Marshal John Reubi at 412.931.7055 and he can provide you with the name your fire department. John can also direct you to the individual responsible for recruitment and admission of new members at any of our fire departments. The contact information for each fire department is listed below for your convenience. On behalf of the Ross Township firefighters and the Board of Commissioners, I thank you in advance for your support of an extremely important and necessary asset of Ross Township. If you would like to contact me please do so at: [email protected] or 412.979.0399 Evergreen Fire Company – Station 246 2127 Babcock Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15209 Phone: [phone] Berkeley Hills Fire Company – Station 247 235 Siebert Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 Phone: [phone] Perrysville Volunteer Fire Company – Station 248 985 Perry Highway, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 Phone: [phone] Quaill District Volunteer Fire Company – Station 249 50 Gass Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15229 Phone: [phone] Fairview Fire Company – Station 250 44 East Forest Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15202 Phone: [phone] Seville Volunteer Fire Company – Station 251 124 Enger Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15214 Phone: [phone] Keating Fire Company – Station 252 39 West View Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15229 Phone: [phone] Laurel Gardens Volunteer Fire Company – Station 253 160 Sixth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15229 Phone [phone]