Three Quaker Valley area fire departments have begun formal merger talks in order to boost manpower and service capabilities.
Firefighters from Leetsdale, Fair Oaks Volunteer Fire Protective Association in Leet and Big Sewickley Creek Volunteer Fire Department in Bell Acres all voted this month to move discussions forward.
Each department created a three-person merger committee to take part in monthly talks. The first joint committee meeting was set for Jan. 27 (this issue went to press on Jan. 22).
They are looking into third-party independent agencies to create a fourth committee. All committees would have one vote in deciding possible next steps.
Officials from all three departments stressed that everything is very preliminary, with the goal being to provide better service to residents. There are no plans to close any fire stations.
“We’re still new to this,” said Tom Kuny, president of Big Sewickley Creek Volunteer Fire Department in Bell Acres. “If we can provide economical, value-added service for our residents, then it makes sense (to merge).”
The three departments have been mutual aid companies for more than 40 years, meaning crews often respond to the same fire calls within a little more than an 8-square-mile radius.
Fair Oaks Chief Mark Brooks said that is not a lot of ground to cover compared to other municipalities like Moon Township, which is about 24 square miles.
He said the Quaker Valley School District is about 21 square miles and includes 11 communities, including Leet, Leetsdale and Bell Acres.
“I think when you get on the scene of an emergency situation, personalities go away,” Kuny said. “We’re all focused. It’s on the one mission.”
Bell Acres responded to 186 calls in 2025, with 120 of them being medical calls. Leetsdale responded 372 calls last year with 167 being fire calls and 205 medical. Leet responded to 125 calls; it relies on Leetsdale’s service for medical calls.
Total combined membership of the three departments is about 60, with 10 active responders in Leetsdale, 15 active in Leet and 15 active in Bell Acres.
A survey sent out to the departments last month by Ryan Buttermore, Leetsdale Fire Department lieutenant and driving force behind the merger, gave an early indication that joining forces had broad support.
Nearly 30 people, with active responders from each municipality, responded.
“The vast majority (was) overwhelmingly in favor of the merger as long as it’s done correctly,” Buttermore said. “Most of the people thought that they already worked well together.
“There was not much in the way of concerns other than making sure (there was) equal representation so that one department is not taking the lead on everything, that everyone has a say. That’s what’s going to happen as we become one, as we start having meetings together and whatnot.”
The total number of combined vehicles available is 11. They include one engine, one squad and one squirt truck with a 75-foot ladder in Leetsdale, two engines and two squads in Leet, one engine, one tanker, a brush truck and a squad in Bell Acres.
The fire companies have joint training sessions the fourth Monday of the month at alternating locations.
Buttermore said Cochran Hose Company in Sewickley and Aleppo firefighters were invited to discuss a possible merger and so far have not officially joined the effort.
Messages left with the two companies were not returned as of press time.
Buttermore said it would be great to have all Quaker Valley fire departments on board.
“We all root for the same football team on Friday nights,” he said. “It shouldn’t be a problem all as one department coming together to serve the community.”
Other work needing to be done as part of the merger is creating a new name for the joint company, new bylaws, charter, re-decaling of the trucks and new organizational leadership chart, including inaugural officers.
Officials said they hope to have related paperwork filed and approved by the start of next year and the new fire department up and running within 18 months.
Leetdale and Leet firefighters unanimously voted to move discussions forward on Jan. 12. Bell Acres unanimously voted on Jan. 19.
In Pennsylvania, junior firefighters ages 14 to 17 can participate in non-hazardous training and some other department functions, but they can’t operate fire vehicles or enter burning buildings.
Buttermore said they are having trouble retaining folks in their late teens into their 30s. Some junior firefighters receive all their training and then head off to college or go out of town and rarely return to the department.
“At (age) 42, I’m one of the younger guys in this department,” he said. “The trouble you run into today is getting someone that’s between the age of college graduate to mid-30s because those people have too much stuff going on in their personal lives.”
He said it takes about 180+ hours to become a certified firefighter, and that time commitment is a lot for most people.
The number of volunteer firefighters in Pennsylvania plummeted almost 90% from 1970 to this year, according to the Pennsylvania Fire and Emergency Services Institute. It is estimated that only about 38,000 volunteer firefighters remain in the state.
There are almost 2,500 fire companies in Pennsylvania, according to a report from the state House Republican Caucus. Of those, 90% are volunteer services.
Brooks said Pennsylvania is not the only state struggling with this issue.
“If you look at the national trends in fire service, volunteerism’s way down,” said Brooks. “The number of volunteers is way down. The sustainability of these multiple small fire departments is becoming harder and harder to maintain. Larger consolidated structure benefits everybody (such as) the taxpayer, the departments. It allows the departments to do some things they can’t currently do, maybe with staffing and other things.”
All three departments get financial support from their respective municipalities. They each also receive about $12,000 in state funding and rely on donations. Leet and Bell Acres each have an annual fundraising drive. Leetsdale does not.
Buttermore said there may be more grant funding opportunities and for larger amounts as a merged department compared to three smaller ones.
Folks who want more information, wish to weigh in on the proposed merger or are interested in volunteering for the volunteer departments can email qvfiremerger@gmail.com.
Learning from others
Harmony and Zelienople fire departments merged into Harmony Fire District in December 2015.
Fair Oaks hosted a talk in late December with Cranberry Fire Chief Scott Garing, who served in Harmony prior and was instrumental with its merger.
That event included representation from all five Quaker Valley area fire departments as well as municipal officials.
Buttermore said one of the tips from that meeting was to start having meetings and trainings, responding to calls and have trainings as one unit prior to finalizing the merger and tackle other challenges down the road like identifying new department headquarters.
Sharpsburg and Aspinwall fire departments successfully merged a few years ago into Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services.
Its merger process started in January 2022. An Allegheny County judge signed off on it in June 2023.
The driving force behind the merger was the need for more volunteers and to boost efficiency.
“There are many benefits of a merged department,” SAVES Chief Mike Daniher said via email on Jan. 19. “Having additional personnel to respond to emergencies, shared resources, more robust training opportunities, committees with more diverse talents and less duplication.”
Daniher said the merger process was a journey with a lot of moving parts.
“We had to contract a fire service attorney to guide us through the process,” Daniher said. “We had a great team from supportive municipalities, engaged members and a committee who lead the way. We learned that consistent branding and communication are very important so that the residents can understand the new department’s identity.”
