BROOKVILLE BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) – Brookville Borough Council is considering a new mutual aid agreement with Pine Creek Volunteer Fire Department for calls in Rose Township, Jefferson County.
Chief Don Pangallo of Pine Creek Volunteer Fire Department brought the issue before the council at Tuesday evening’s meeting.
According to Pangallo, about 20 years ago, Brookville Fire Company and Pine Creek Volunteer Fire Department shared response to Rose Township, until financial issues caused Brookville to make the decision to no longer respond to Rose Township calls.
“The times, within the fire department, have changed drastically,” Pangallo said. “Brookville and Pine Creek are getting along together better at this time than they have in the 26 years I’ve been in the fire service. We’re working together, we’re training together, we’re running calls together.”
Pangallo noted that the two departments already have an “informal agreement” to assist each other when called upon. However, he appeared at the council meeting to request that the council reconsider an official mutual aid agreement for both departments to respond to calls in Rose Township.
“What I’m asking for is council’s support for Brookville Fire Department to respond to Rose Township for mutual aid, the same as when Pine Creek responds to Brookville Borough, the same as when Brookville responds to Sigel, Summerville, Punxsutawney, Reynoldsville, or any other town.”
While Brookville already helps if requested, an agreement of this type would allow them to be called as one of the first responding companies, along with Pine Creek, to Rose Township calls.
“One of the issues that’s concerning me, personally, with all this construction that’s going on, mainly around the hilltop area, coming up over the next three years, the construction is going to alter our response going to that side of town,” Pangallo said.
“Our members have to get through the construction to get there to get a truck and then get back through it to get over there, no matter which direction we’re going. If I was able to have on paper, have them dispatched the same time we are, rather than me waiting and calling whenever we realize we need help, it would be a huge help to us.”
Pangallo also went on to note that they don’t usually receive a great number of calls to Rose Township, so it wouldn’t put much additional strain on Brookville Volunteer Fire Company.
“And one of the biggest things, when it’s your neighbor, and you know you can make a difference and help, it really hurts to sit there and not do anything,” he noted.
“I just think, between the two of us, we’re only getting stronger, and this would be a huge step in the right direction for both of us.”
While several council members, including Bill Kutz, Karen Allgeier, and Richard Baughman, spoke in favor of the idea, the council ultimately decided to table to issue until the next meeting, when Brookville Fire Chief Dave Miller will be in attendance.
“At that time our fire chief will be here and we can have a discussion about what we want to do,” Council President Phil Hynes said.
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