Butler Township commissioners will review an ordinance that would let the township volunteer fire district bill insurance companies when firefighters use equipment at a scene they are dispatched to.

Scott Frederick, director of emergency services for Butler Township, said at Wednesday’s commissioners meeting that many municipal career or volunteer fire departments bill insurance companies for recoupment of services.

He also said the ordinance will not charge residents, and should not affect them at all.

“The bill would be sent straight to their insurance company — either vehicle, homeowners or renters — any outstanding balance would not be passed on to the resident,” Frederick said. “Vehicle collisions, structure fires and other incidents of similar severity would be able to be billed for, just to the insurance company.”

According to Frederick, research conducted by township administrators found that “most insurance companies have funds set aside for these types of expenses.”

A proposed fee schedule distributed by Frederick at the meeting lists the potential charges for the use of many fire department apparatus. For example, the department could charge $120 per hour for use of a fire engine, $30 per foot of hose used, $50 per use of power tool and $250 for debris cleanup.

“We would be able to bill for recovery of the use of fire apparatus, the use of specialized equipment and then disposable resources such as flares,” Frederick said. “The fire district uses an incident response software that tracks the use of equipment, apparatus, personnel and the ancillary equipment would be tracked in the incident narrative.”

Frederick also said some insurance companies require an ordinance to be billed for fire department recoupment bills, so the review by the township commissioners is the first step to getting this process in place.

There will be a public hearing for the ordinance at 7 p.m. Aug. 15, as per a vote by the commissioners Wednesday.