Published: January 08, 2008 10:33 pm            

Two fire companies will respond to calls

PORTAGE — Kenneth “Tiger” Trimbath, living up to his nickname, came to his first meeting as a Portage Township supervisor armed with a map, charts and an argument.

His presentation was strong enough to convince other officials that a liability looms unless the emergency callout for fires and vehicle crashes is expanded.

Supervisor Jim Kovach was reluctant to approve the change, saying the Portage Fire Company wants more time.

Yet he and Supervisor Elwood Selapack agreed with Trimbath to have Cambria County 911 dispatch the Cassandra Fire Company simultaneously with the Portage volunteers.

A handful of the two dozen residents at the meeting applauded the action.

“It would reduce our chance of liability when an accident occurs and the closest company is not called,” Trimbath said. “It also will be better protection for the residents.”

More manpower and equipment on the first call also should eventually reduce homeowner fire insurance rates, Trimbath said.

The practice during the past few years has been for the Portage company to get the call from the dispatch center, respond to the accident or fire and determine if more aid is needed.

The change calls for the Cassandra company, three miles north of Portage, to be sent out simultaneously.

If the incident is serious enough, fire companies from Beaverdale, Wilmore, Lilly and beyond then would be brought in, according to Trimbath’s plan.

Despite assumptions that the Summerhill and Wilmore companies may be closer to some areas of the township, Trimbath said Cassandra actually is closer to the population centers. Cassandra fire official Matt McCoy consistently has said his company is willing to help anyone.

Portage fire Chief Ray Lee could not be reached Tuesday.

The issue of the 911 assignments surfaced in October, when a half-dozen residents told the supervisors of concerns and asked Cassandra be added for first response.

The state municipal code empowers supervisors to decide which fire companies provide residents’ safety.

        

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