Keystone Valley Fire Department

from Western Chester County Life Spring/Summer 2022

Stargazers Vineyard

In a changing world, Keystone Valley Fire Department proves we are stronger together

By Judith Lee WCCCC Contributor

The world has changed, and Keystone Valley Fire Department (KVFD) continues to change with it.

KVFD was a trendsetter in 2013 when it was formed as a consolidation of Pomeroy, Parkesburg, Atglen and Martins Corner volunteer fire departments. The consolidation of manpower and resources from these companies resulted in increased efficiency and a decrease in redundant sources. Together, the combined department has over 50 volunteers and 20 career staff and provides fire, rescue, and EMS services to approximately 11,000 residents in Parkesburg Borough, West Sadsbury Township, Sadsbury Township and Highland Township.

KVFD’s motto is “Working Regionally to Survive Locally.” According to KVFD Chief Brian Gathercole, the consolidated fire company has achieved its initial goals and is stronger than it would be as separate local fire companies. However, the world continues to change, and KVFD today is an organization that is responding with an unflinching resolve.

“Fire service is transitioning from all-volunteer to some paid career positions,” noted Chief Gathercole. “We still are strong in manpower but not in consistency. One day we can have 20 firefighters show up for a call, another day we can have two. In order to provide the best possible coverage we need the consistency to be the same all the time.”

This challenge arises from economic and demographic changes in Western Chester County and, well, everywhere: • Many residents travel 30 minutes or even more to their jobs and are not available to answer local fire calls during the day. • Family budgets are stretched thin due to a rising cost of living, and some breadwinners are working two jobs to make ends meet. • Longtime volunteers are aging, and some are unwilling or unable to maintain the county and state training requirements. • New residents may not be indoctrinated into the culture of volunteerism that has kept three, four and five generations of volunteers committed to local fire departments.

“We have the same amount of challenges, but fewer people to address them,” noted Ed Haas, township supervisor for West Sadsbury Township, one of the municipalities in the KVFD Fire District.

Chief Gathercole himself is an example of the Western Chester County culture of volunteerism. A dedicated public servant since 1994 and joining the Pomeroy fire company volunteer in 2005, he came into KVFD with the fire company consolidation. He served as KVFD Chief from 2014 to 2016, and then accepted the position again in 2021.

But he is quick to shift attention from himself to the organization, which has performed with amazing commitment to the municipalities which make up the KVFD Fire District.

For instance, in 2021, KVFD answered 305 Fire Calls and 1,542 EMS calls. This year, the burden on EMS services is expected to increase dramatically due to the closing of Brandywine Hospital. EMS vehicles will need to transport patients much further away to Chester County Hospital, Paoli Hospital, or even into Delaware. KVFD has already responded by doubling its EMS capacity from one to two EMS teams, providing 24/7 EMS coverage to overage to residents. The struggle comes from not havot having enough EMS Providers available to to in the profession to serve. Many organizations are sharing employees.

“We are trying to be proactive, but other municipalities may not realize the huge impact of the hospital closing and the impact on residents,” noted Josh Mellinger, Parkesburg Borough Council member and president of the Western Chester County y Council of Governments.

KVFD’s EMS positions are all paid, d, and this is true throughout the county. In . In the case of KVFD, important funding for g for the fire company and EMS services comes omes from a fire tax paid by all residents of the of the municipalities in the KVFD Fire District. This rict. This saves KVFD the burden of constant fundraising fundraising that local (unconsolidated) fire companies must bear.

“Before we consolidated, we were doing a fundraiser every month,” Chief Gathercole remembered, adding that some fundraising is still needed. “KVFD does three fundraisers a year, including our Golf Outing.”

Certainly, KVFD is no slouch in the fundraising department. Several years ago, it was determined that the fire house in Parkesburg, which houses the lion’s share of KVFD trucks and equipment, was no longer adequate. KVFD was seeking a fundraising partner in the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), asking local businesses for help, and fundraising in the community, KVFD raised the $2.8 million needed to expand and rebuild the Parkesburg fire house into the striking, large new fire house and Veteran’s Memorial Garden on First Ave. in Parkesburg. As anyone who has built a building knows, the As anyon expense does not stop when construction is expen completed. Maintenance is an ongoing com issue and cost to KVFD – and just one is of many needs and costs. So, what can the community and business community do to help? “Most people don’t realize there is more you can do than just answer fire calls,” Mellinger said. If you don’t have the time or the physical ability to become a firefighter, p there are many other ways to help. A th few examples include: few • Help clean the fire house facility • • Wash the fire trucks • W • Serve in the recruitment tent at com• Se munity events munity • Make fundraising phone calls for the fire • Make company and for EMS company a The business community could help by: • Sponsoring the annual Golf Outing or other fundraising events • Setting a policy to allow employees to leave during the business day to answer fire calls • Helping to research grant opportunities and write applications • Working on special projects for the fire company

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An example of a special project is a recent initiative to purchase electronic defibrillators (AEDs) for the fire trucks, KVFD facilities and the VFW. Ten AEDs were needed, at $2,000 each. Grants were obtained from the state of Pennsylvania and from the Gary Senise Foundation.

Other special projects might include replacing equipment and helping to resolve staffing shortages, Mellinger said: “We have to keep up with all other businesses in attracting and retaining key employees.”

Chief Gathercole recognized that help comes from various sources in the community. The Octorara Homeland Community Program funnels interested high school students into KVFD, bringing three to five students each year. The business Greg Pilotti Furniture Makers allows its employees to respond to call throughout the day assisting the KVFD with staffing and a response.

Local businesses have long supported the fire company. A number of familiar business names are on the permanent plaque installed when the new fire house was dedicated in 2018, including Vietri Electric, A. Duie Pyle, Wilde Funeral Home, Greg Pilotti Furniture Makers, JD Eckman, and many others.

Of course, the tax dollar support from the municipalities in the KVFD Fire District has made an enormous difference to KVFD, Chief Gathercole said. They help in many other ways, such as West Sadsbury introducing KVFD to every new business that moves in, such as Victory Brewing and (soon) International Paper.

“They make sure we meet the right people in the businesses who can help KVFD, and then we follow through,” he said.

Going forward, Chief Gathercole, Haas and Mellinger said they hope other local fire companies and municipalities will consider joining the Keystone Valley Fire District.

“Others came to the table when we were consolidating (in 2013), but chose not to join at that time,” noted Chief Gathercole. “Perhaps now they will understand the objective of consolidation, and we welcome them.”

“A municipality or fire company also is welcome to consult with us,” noted Mellinger. “Perhaps they would like to form their own fire district. This is worth considering. We have certainly learned that we are all stronger together.”

Editor’s note: The general public and local businesses are invited to attend the regular meeting of KVFD on the third Tuesday of the month at 7 pm at the Parkesburg Fire House.