Adams County Volunteer Emergency Service Association


Wednesday, November 01, 2000
Adams fire companies may merge
Emergency personnel hope new organization will improve emergency services in county.

By VERA KLINKOWSKY
Evening Sun Reporter

Through one organization, Adams County emergency services officials are hoping to improve services for county residents.

The new organization ­ the Adams County Volunteer Emergency Service Association ­ was officially formed Oct. 5 with the merging of the county's Firefighters Association, Fire Chiefs Association and the Emergency Management Services Association.

The Adams County Volunteer Emergency Service Association will install its officers 7 p.m. Thursday in the Fairfield Fire Co. hall.

Already, the organization has paid benefits.

Les Morton, who will be installed as president, said the association has already been able to save $1,000 on the insurance policy for the fire companies for a year.

The not-for-profit organization also hopes to purchase equipment in bulk to save the fire companies money, Morton said.

"We will have more clout than the three small organizations when we talk to the county commissioners," he said.

Officers to be installed include Morton, firefighter with the Fairfield Fire Co.; vice president Mike Sneeringer, chief of Alpha Fire Co., Littlestown; recording secretary Pam Reichert, firefighter with the Abbottstown Fire Co.; membership secretary Barb North, firefighter with the Littlestown Fire Co.; treasurer Dave Martin, chief of Fountaindale Fire Co.; and chaplain Donald Sneeringer, firefighter with the Conewago Fire Co.

The association has about 3,800 members from the county's nearly 30 fire companies, North said.

Some York County fire companies, including Hanover, are associate members of the new organization, but will have no voting privileges, she said.

The association's first issue is discussing plans for the fire training center on Granite Station Road in Straban Township with the Adams County commissioners. The plans, which will be presented at Thursday night's meeting, have not been finalized, he said.

The firefighters are now trained at the Harrisburg Area Community College in Harrisburg.

Another issue on the association's agenda is educating people about properly numbering their homes so emergency services can find residents, Morton said.

Copyright © 2001 [The Evening Sun]. All rights reserved.

Last revised: April 09, 2007 05:50 PM