Published: May 31, 2009 12:02 am      

Township panel to study fire services

TIRE HILL — Even with four fire companies in Conemaugh Township, it sometimes is difficult to find people to turn out for daytime emergencies, township officials said.

To better provide fire protection for the township’s 7,274 residents, Conemaugh officials are looking to the recently formed Fire Services Review Committee for help.

Finding ways to eliminate duplication of services and getting volunteers to respond to daytime emergencies are some of the puzzles to solved.

“One day you might have 10 guys show and the next day nobody is there,” township Supervisor Chairman Steven Buncich said. “We need to better improve services for the township.”

Supervisors pared a list of 15 candidates, choosing four for the committee who will make recommendations to supervisors.

They are: David Mishler, CEO of Laurel View Village; Conemaugh EMS Manager Terry Ruparcic; former Jerome fire Chief Nick Panasci; and former Ideal fire Chief Brian Shoff.

The group has not met.

“Our first goal is to set down and review what it takes to be a firefighter and to get people involved,” Shoff said.

Shoff said the committee is not looking into consolidating fire departments, but said they needed to work together to avoid buying the same equipment.

“We need to better utilize money and personnel,” he said.

The township has four volunteer fire departments: Conemaugh, Jerome, Ideal and Hollsopple.

Township officials have held talks with representatives of the state Association of Township Supervisors to generate ideas for the committee.

There is no timetable for the committee to make its recommendations to the supervisors, Buncich said.