Cheswick merger with Allegheny Valley Fire Department in final stages

After a two-year process, Cheswick will soon be merging its fire department with the Allegheny Valley Fire Department.

The merger agreement is in the final stages of the process. After the state approves it, Cheswick officially will consolidate with Allegheny Valley, said Kevin Funkhouser, Allegheny Valley’s fire chief.

He said the fire companies are not certain when the merger will begin to function, but he hopes it’s by summer.

“It could be in a couple days or a couple months,” Funkhouser said.

Discussions about a merger began in 2019 when the Cheswick Fire Department approached Allegheny Valley about their experience as a merged department. The fire department combined the volunteer departments of Springdale Township and Harmar in 2012.

Councilman Frank Meledandri said the Cheswick Fire Department has been struggling with recruiting new members to provide adequate coverage. He said council has been in the loop with the stages of the merger because council members will have to discuss how Cheswick Borough will contribute to the fire department.

“We are very positive on this merger, but we are waiting to have them come back to us with what they propose,” he said.

Cheswick and Allegheny Valley were hoping to finalize the merger last year, but covid stalled the process. Funkhouser said the companies have been informally meeting separately at the Allegheny Valley fire station in Springdale Township.

The fire departments started sharing their resources and manpower last year.

Funkhouser said the consolidation of fire departments is becoming a growing trend, pointing out the recent announcement of Sharpsburg and Aspinwall planning to combine their fire services . Instead of having multiple departments serving communities, one centralized location simplifies the work, he said.

By merging, he said, the fire department will be able to bring in more manpower and save money by sharing resources. The rising cost of equipment is putting even more pressure on budgets.

“This will be a positive thing for the communities, and hopefully we can provide a safety aspect the communities need,” he said.