Winfield dissolves fire department
WINFIELD TWP — Supervisors at Thursday's meeting passed an ordinance to officially dissolve the township's volunteer fire department, but the assistant chief of the former department said firefighters would continue to respond to fires and emergencies.
The dissolution of the department meant that at 8 p.m. Thursday, the county 911 center no longer recognized the Winfield Volunteer Fire Department and began dispatching Saxonburg, Herman or Buffalo Township volunteer fire departments to emergencies in Winfield Township.
The supervisors explained once again that they have tried for a decade to help the Winfield fire volunteers improve in record keeping, reporting, keeping up with training requirements and many other aspects of the fire department operation, which they say were being neglected.
The supervisors said the fire department's Workers' Compensation insurance policy was canceled, and that they encourage all Winfield firefighters to join one of the three departments now providing fire services in the township.
But they admitted they cannot prevent the firefighters from responding to scenes where the recognized fire departments are dispatched.
Just before the meeting adjourned, firefighter Zack Hartman said they would do just that.
“We are staying open until we can no longer afford it,” said an angry Hartman. “We don't want to leave this township.”
Read Friday's Butler Eagle to learn more about the changes brought on by the ordinance.
