Two Annville area fire companies have complete their merger into a single unit, effective Jan. 1.
Bellegrove Fire Company and Union Water Works Fire Company are now joined as a unified fire and emergency services organization dubbed the North Annville Fire Department.
“This strategic merger marks a new chapter in the history of both departments and reflects a shared commitment to enhancing public safety and emergency response capabilities in the community,” the new company said in a press release. “The merger strengthens the resources, manpower, and expertise available to respond to emergencies, improving the ability to serve and protect residents across the area.”
The merger provides the new entity with an expanded team of dedicated firefighters, EMTs, and support staff.
“This merger is a significant step forward for both of our organizations,” Bellegrove Chief Keith Blauch said in the release. “By joining forces, we are enhancing our ability to provide faster, more efficient responses, improving our training programs, and ensuring that we are fully equipped to meet the evolving needs of our community.”
Officials from the two companies signed a memorandum of understanding with the township in autumn 2023.
North Annville Township supervisor Adam D. Wolf told LebTown in June 2024 that the merger process was launched in part because both companies were having “difficulty recruiting and retaining volunteers, so this is one way for them to join their manpower together.”
Last summer, Wolfe told LebTown that Bellegrove had 35 members and an auxiliary with 24 members, while Union Water Works and its auxiliary had 19 and 8 members, respectively. The two companies together served the township, with about 2,250 residents.
For the process to move forward, a joint merger committee, made up of officials and citizens from both companies, needed to agree on a new set of bylaws – a process that hit a few roadblocks over several months. Issues between the companies sparked Union Water Works to hire an attorney in August to represent their interests in the discussion and ask township supervisors for more time before committing to the merger.
Bellegrove Fire Company deputy chief and merger committee member Mark Sallada expressed frustration at the delays during an August meeting of supervisors.
Getting a lawyer “probably should have done that a couple of months ago,” Sallada said, noting that he believed the Jan. 1 deadline wouldn’t be met. “I think what we’re starting to see is kick-the-can-down-the-road, for lack of a better term. What’s the next thing going to be?”
On the other hand, he added, “The merger committee gets along very well despite what anyone else says. There’s no argument. No conflicts or nothing like that. We’ve all had the same amount of equal opportunity. No one is favored over the other.”
North Annville Township solicitor Paul Bametzreider also said in August that supervisors were committed to recognizing and financially supporting only one company, known as North Annville Fire Company, as of Jan. 1 — whether or not both companies went through with the merger.
“If for some reason Union Water Works doesn’t want to come along … then the township will just proceed with the one fire company,” he said at the time. “It will take on the apparatus of Bellegrove Fire Company and the manpower of Bellegrove Fire Company.”
By September, supervisors were informed that the planned merger was once again moving forward. The unified fire department will continue to use both fire stations in Annville, one at 1743 Black’s Bridge Road and the other at 2875 Water Works Way.
According to a statement on Jan. 1, the merger brings several key benefits, including:
- Combining resources will enable the organization to field more personnel and equipment on emergency calls, ensuring quicker and more effective responses.
- The merger allows both companies to leverage the knowledge and experience of their seasoned firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs), providing superior training and service to the community.
- A larger, unified department will provide more robust community engagement, outreach, and public safety programs to residents of all ages.
- The merger will enable more efficient use of funding, allowing for better equipment and facilities to serve the community’s needs better.
“We are incredibly proud of the legacy and the dedicated service both fire companies have provided to the community over the years,” Union Water Works Chief Ammon Johnson said in the release. “By combining our strengths, we are poised to build a more efficient, resilient department that is prepared to handle the challenges of today and tomorrow.”
The newly merged organization will be governed by a board of directors composed of members from both legacy fire companies. For more information about the merger and the new North Annville Fire Department, visit their website at northannvillefire.org.
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