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Council dissolves rural fire board, creates Chester County Fire Service Board after debate with volunteer chiefs
Summary
After public comment from long-serving volunteer firefighters and meetings with chiefs, the council approved third reading of an ordinance dissolving the Chester County Rural Fire Board and creating a new Fire Service Board to govern county fire services.
Chester County Council approved the third reading of an ordinance to dissolve the Chester County Rural Fire Board and create a Chester County Fire Service Board, concluding several months of discussion with volunteer fire departments and fire chiefs.
Longtime Westchester Fire Department chief Andrew Martin, who described more than five decades of service and asked the council to proceed cautiously, urged the council to delay changes until more information was available. Council members and staff said countywide discussions with fire chiefs took place and that chiefs left the February meeting in agreement to try the new structure. Supporters argued the new board provides updated governance after more than 50 years under the old system.
Council members acknowledged concerns about volunteer departments’ traditions and local contributions but said the proposed Fire Service Board would create a clearer governance framework and allow the county to modernize oversight while continuing to rely on volunteer fire service in many districts. County Administrator Hester said staff had met with fire chiefs and that the chiefs “were in agreement to try this.”
Council approved the third reading by voice vote; the meeting record notes the measure passed with all in favor. The ordinance’s implementation steps and any changes to funding formulas were discussed in general terms during the meeting; council did not adopt specific changes to departmental budgets in this session.
The council asked staff to continue communicating with individual volunteer departments to address equipment, funding, and service-area questions during the transition to the new board structure.
