Borough of West Mayfield Committee
Fire Service Review
CURRENT FIRE SERVICE PROVIDER
The Brough’s designated fire service provider is the West Mayfield Volunteer Fire Department (WMVFD). The fire department, along with its support organization, the West Mayfield Firemen’s Relief Association of West Mayfield (WMFRA), are distinct and separate legal entities from the borough. Both WMVFD and WMFRA nominate and elect their leadership from their membership as they see fit.
Source: West Mayfield Fire Department, Facebook page, January 20, 2024
WEST MAYFIELD VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Line Officers
- Chief: Lou Little
- Asst. Chief: Wendy Harker
- Capt.: Jamie Hoskinson
- 1st Lt.: Imogene Harker
- 2nd Lt.: Scotty Maxwell
- Safety: Michael Caler
Fire Administration
- President: Lou Little
- Vice President: Wendy Harker
- Treasurer: Eli Kosanovich
- Secretary: Michael Caler
WEST MAYFIELD FIREMEN’S RELIEF ASSOCIATION OF WEST MAYFIELD
Administration
- President: Wendy Harker
- Vice President: Denise Sabella
- Treasurer: Ron Sano
- Secretary: Michael Caler
Council Fire & Police Committee
- Who oversees this committee?
- What is the committee’s description, mission, or clearly defined goals or objectives?
- How are the committee members selected?
- What expectations or criteria are there for monthly and year-end reports?
Borough’s Fire Related Ordinances (see text in pdf reader)
- The borough’s ordinance responsible for defining “Volunteer Fire Department.”
- This section originated as “Ord. 92, passed 6-1-42” and let stand as part of the recodified ordinances of 1976.
Chapter 16: Fire Prevention Code
The borough’s ordinance responsible for defining fire prevention and fire protection is Fire Prevention Code.
OBSERVATIONS
- Last revised 1970
- Does not contain ordinace adopting Act 93 Fire Insurance Escrow
- Enforcement policies ambiguous
- Reporting requirements to council weak and inadequate
WMVFD members
- Lou Little
- Wendy Harker
- Jamie Hoskinson
- Imogene Harker
- Scotty Maxwell
- Michael Caler
- Denise Sabella
- Ron Sano
- Mathew Starr
WMVFD firefighters/first responders
- Lou Little
- Wendy Harker
- Jamie Hoskinson
- Imogene Harker
- Scotty Maxwell
- Michael Caler
- Denise Sabella
- Mathew Starr
- For each WMVFD first responder:
- What are their credentials and certifications?
- Is there documentary proof of credentials and certifications?
- Is there a documented list of training received?
- Do they belong to or are they active in any professional organizations or associations?
- What professional organizations o a
- Essentials of Firefighting
- Fire Fighter I Certification
- Fire Fighter II Certification
- Sworn Fire Police
Certification Levels Presently Offered by the Office of the State Fire Commissioner:
- Airport Firefighter
- Firefighter I
- Firefighter II
- Fire Officer I
- Fire Officer II
- Fire and Emergency Services Instructor I
- Fire and Emergency Services Instructor II
- Facility Fire Brigade Advanced Exterior
- Fire Inspector I
- Driver/Operator — Aerial
- Driver/Operator — Aerial Tiller
- Driver/Operator — Mobile Water Supply
- Driver/Operator — Pumper
- Hazardous Materials Awareness
- Hazardous Materials Operations
- Hazardous Materials Technician
- Hazardous Materials Incident Commander
- Incident Safety Officer
- Local Level Fire Training Program
- Public Fire and Life Safety Educator I
- Public Fire and Life Safety Educator II
- Rescue Technician — Confined Space Level I & II
- Rescue Technician — General
- Rescue Technician — Rope Level I & II
- Rescue Technician — Structural Collapse Level I & II
- Rescue Technician — Surface Water Level I & II
- Rescue Technician — Trench Level I & II
- Rescue Technician — Vehicle and Machinery Level I & II
- Traffic Incident Management Personnel (NFPA 1091)
- Youth Firesetter Intervention Specialist
- Youth Firesetter Program Manager
Pennsylvania Fire Information Reporting System (PennFIRS)
2020 – 2023
- Total: 215 incidents
- Average: 53.7/year
- Average: 4.25/month
- Most calls (any month): 9
- Least calls (any month): 1 (“0” listed twice in 2021 are missed reports)
Outstanding questions:
- Type of calls? Outcomes?
- Automatic vs. mutual aid assisting WMVFD?
- Number of mutual aid calls, where, type of assistance rendered?
- Resources required for each call:
- Financial cost?
- Dept. hours?
- Staff hours?
- Are there written incident reports?
ISO Fire Service Rating
The Insurance Services Office (ISO) evaluates public fire-protection services and classifies a community’s ability to suppress fires.
The Public Protection Classification system provides an objective, national standard that helps fire departments in plan and budget for facilities, equipment and training. And by securing lower fire insurance premiums for communities with better public protection, the PPC program provides incentives and rewards for communities that choose to improve their firefighting services.
The PPC grade assigned to the community will depend on the community’s score on a 100-point scale:
PPC Points
1 = 90.00 or more
2 = 80.00 to 89.99
3 = 70.00 to 79.99
4 = 60.00 to 69.99
5 = 50.00 to 59.99
6 = 40.00 to 49.99
7 = 30.00 to 39.99
8 = 20.00 to 29.99
9 = 10.00 to 19.99
10 = 0.00 to 9.99
An ISO rating of class 1 is the hightest, class 10 is the lowest. For reference, here is an example of a class 1 ISO Fire Rating report from Mt. Leganon, Pa.
In short, the ISO fire ratings measure how well prepared a community is to fight fires.
Neighboring (mutual aid) ISO Fire Ratings
- City of Beaver Falls = PPC class 3 “considered above average”
- Big Beaver Borough = PPC class 5 “average”
- Chippewa Township = PPC class 5
- Patterson Township = PPC class 5
West Mayfield’s ISO Fire Rating
- March 10, 2022: “Fire & Police – Ms. Harker – everything is good at the fire department. She is getting information requested by ISO insurance.”
- April 14, 2022: “Fire & Police – Ms. Harker – The ISO insurance inspection has been complete and the fire department received a rating of 6. In order to get a higher rating you must have paid fire fighters. The borough needs to adopt an international fire code and adopt an ordinance for it.”
- October 13, 2022: “Fire & Police – Ms. Harker ISO insurance required all kinds of records and we were given a top rating after the records were reviewed.”
FSRC QUESTIONS:
- What is the current status of the WMFRA?
WEST MAYFIELD FIREMEN’S RELIEF ASSOCIATION OF WEST MAYFIELD
- Auditor General DeFoor Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in 25 Counties
- West Mayfield Volunteer Firemen’s Relief Association of West Mayfield – Beaver County – Audit Period January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022
- West Mayfield Volunteer Firemen’s Relief Association of West Mayfield – Beaver County – Audit Period January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019
- The West Mayfield Volunteer Firemens Relief Association of West Mayfield – Beaver County – Audit Period January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017
- The West Mayfield Volunteer Firemens Relief Association of West Mayfield – Beaver County, Pennsylvania – 04/05/2016
- Fire Audits – West Mayfield VFRA – Beaver County – 08/05/13
- West Mayfield Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Association – Beaver County – Compliance Audit Report – 12/23/09
- West Mayfield VFRA found non-compliant in four areas during state audit
FSRC QUESTIONS
- What mutual aid agreements exist between WMVFD and surrounding municipalities?
- What and where are the written mutual aid agreements between the parties of the Borough of West Mayfield, WMVFD, the West mayfield Emergency Management Office and surrounding municipalities and/or agencies?
- What are the mutual aid protocols?
- In what ways do surrounding communities assist WMVFD and vice versa?
- What is the nature of the working relationship between WMVFD and neighboring mutual aid providers?
- How do the following impact WMVFD?
- Beaver County Emergency Management Agency (BCEMA)
- Pennsylvania Intrastate Mutual Aid System
- Beaver County Fire Mutual Aid Agreement
References:
- Hopewell Township County authorization for execution of a mutual aid agreement for fire protection services with other municipalities in Beaver County (See resolution).
- Beaver County Emergency Operations Plan Basic Plan (references mutual aid agreements).
- The secondary mission of the Beaver Falls Fire Department is to provide, when feasible, the same services to any community or agency when properly requested, as determined by existing and future mutual aid agreements (see website).
- The New Brighton Volunteer Fire Department is an all volunteer fire department consisting of 30 members. The fire department provides fire suppression, water rescue, rapid intervention, vehicle extrication, search and rescue, and hazardous material response to the Borough of New Brighton and the Borough of Fallston. The department also provides routine mutual aid to the neighboring townships of Daugherty, Rochester, and Pulaski, the Boroughs of Rochester and East Rochester, and the City of Beaver Falls. Since 1989, New Brighton has been a part of a county wide mutual aid agreement with all 56 county municipalities for shared resources among fire departments.
State statute authorizing intrastate mutual aid
- Health and Safety (35 PA.C.S.) – Intrastate Mutual Aid, Act of Oct. 8, 2008, P.L. 1098, No. 93
- Title 35: § 7504. Coordination, assistance and mutual aid.
Immediate Mutual Aid Responders
- Chippewa Township Volunteer Fire Department
- Big Beaver Borough Volunteer Fire Company
- Patterson Township Volunteer Fire Company
- Patterson Heights Volunteer Fire Department
- White Township Volunteer Fire Department
- Darlington Township Volunteer Fire Department
All Fire/EMS Departments in Beaver County
| Station | Department | Address | City | Zip | Municipality |
| 1 | Crescent Twp VFD | 79 McGovern Blvd | Crescent | 15046 | Crescent Twp |
| 11 | Beaver Falls FD | 715 15th Street | Beaver Falls | 15010 | Beaver Falls |
| 12 | Enon Valley VFD | 95 Cass Street | Enon Valley | 16120 | Enon Valley |
| 13 | North Sewickley VFD | 887 Mercer Road | Beaver Falls | 15010 | Beaver Falls |
| 14 | Big Beaver VFC | 621 Friendship Road | Darlington | 16115 | Big Beaver Boro |
| 15 | New Galilee VFD | 606 Centennial Avenue | New Galilee | 16141 | New Galilee |
| 17 | Koppel VFD | 5525 Fifth Avenue | Koppel | 16136 | Koppel |
| 18 | Darlington Twp VFD | 3590 Darlington Road | Darlington | 16115 | Darlington Twp |
| 19 | Homewood VFD | 464 Main Street | Beaver Falls | 15010 | Beaver Falls |
| 21 | Bell Acres VFD | 1850 Big Sewickley Creek Road | Sewickley | 15143 | Sewickley |
| 22 | Chippewa Twp VFD | 2568 Darlington Road | Beaver Falls | 15010 | Chippewa Twp |
| 23 | Rochester Twp VFD | 632 California Avenue | Rochester | 15074 | Rochester Twp |
| 24 | Vanport Twp VFD | 435 Jefferson Avenue | Vanport | 15009 | Vanport Twp |
| 25 | East Rochester VFD | 4th Street & Lyons Avenue | East Rochester | 15074 | Rochester |
| 26 | Big Knob VFD | 1229 Route 989 | Rochester | 15074 | New Sewickley Twp |
| 27 | Freedom VFD | 901 Third Avenue | Freedom | 15042 | Freedom |
| 28 | Bridgewater VFD | 619 Market Street | Bridgewater | 15009 | Bridgewater |
| 29 | South Side VFD | 90 Beaver Street | New Brighton | 15066 | Rochester |
| 30 | Leetsdale VFD | 85 Broad Street | Leetsdale | 15056 | Leetsdale |
| 33 | Patterson Heights VFD | 600 Seventh Avenue | Beaver Falls | 15010 | Beaver Falls |
| 34 | Potter Twp VFD | 206 Mowry Road | Monaca | 15061 | Potter Twp |
| 35 | Raccoon Twp VFD | 4061 Patterson Road | Aliquippa | 15001 | Raccoon Twp |
| 36 | Center Twp VFD #1 | 3385 Brodhead Road | Center Twp | 15001 | Center Twp |
| 37 | Center Twp VFD #2 | 108 Grandview Avenue | Monaca | 15061 | Center Twp |
| 38 | Center Twp VFD #3 | 110 Vankirk Drive | Monaca | 15061 | Center Twp |
| 39 | Ohioville VFD | 108 Salem Church Road | Midland | 15059 | Ohioville |
| 44 | White Twp VFD | 2515 Thirteenth Avenue | Beaver Falls | 15010 | White Twp |
| 45 | South Heights VFD | 4069 Jordan Street | South Heights | 15081 | South Heights Boro |
| 46 | Fair Oaks VFD | 190 Ambridge Avenue | Fair Oaks | 15003 | Fair Oaks |
| 47 | Baden VFD | 47 Firehouse Lane | Baden | 15005 | Baden |
| 48 | Harmony Twp VFD | 2400 Beaver Road | Ambridge | 15003 | Harmony Twp |
| 49 | Conway VFD | 1208 3rd Avenue | Conway | 15027 | Conway Boro |
| 50 | Fallston VFD | 90 Beaver Street | Fallston | 15066 | Fallston Boro |
| 56 | Monaca VFD #1 | 928 Pennsylvania Avenue | Monaca | 15061 | Monaca Boro |
| 57 | Monaca VFD #4 | 913 Taylor Avenue | Monaca | 15061 | Monaca Boro |
| 58 | Monaca VFD #5 | 920 Atlantic Avenue | Monaca | 15061 | Monaca Boro |
| 59 | Pine Run VFD | 1691 9th Street Extension | Freedom | 15042 | New Sewickley Twp |
| 60 | Hookstown VFD | 102 Silver Slipper Road | Hookstown | 15050 | Greene Twp |
| 61 | South Beaver VFD | 740 St Route 168 | Darlington | 16115 | Darlington |
| 63 | Brighton VFD | PO Box 498 | Beaver | 15009 | Brighton Twp |
| 68 | Hanover VFD | 2697 State Route 18 | Hookstown | 15050 | Hookstown |
| 69 | Economy VFD | 2854 Conway-Wallrose Road | Baden | 15005 | Economy Boro |
| 70 | Franklin Twp VFD | 808 Old Zelienople Road | Ellwood City | 16117 | Franklin Twp |
| 71 | Ambridge VFD | 600 Eleventh Street | Ambridge | 15003 | Ambridge |
| 80 | Independence VFD | 116 School Rd | Aliquippa | 15001 | Independence Twp |
| 84 | New Brighton VFD | 610 3rd Avenue | New Brighton | 15066 | New Brighton |
| 86 | Daugherty VFD | 4198 Marion Hill Road | New Brighton | 15066 | Daugherty Twp |
| 89 | Pulaski Twp VFD | 3401 Sunflower Road | New Brighton | 15066 | Pulaski Twp |
| 90 | Patterson Twp VFC | 319 Darlington Rd | Beaver Falls | 15010 | Patterson Twp |
| 91 | Aliquippa Bureau of Fire | 1499 Kennedy Blvd | Aliquippa | 15001 | Aliquippa |
| 92 | Hopewell Twp VFD | Mckinnley Avenue | Aliquippa | 15001 | Hopewell Twp |
| 95 | Midland VFD | 936 Midland Ave | Midland | 15059 | Midland |
| 96 | Shippingport VFD | 163 Route 3016 | Shippingport | 15077 | Shippingport |
| 97 | Industry VFD | 1711 Ohio Avenue | Industry | 15052 | Industry Boro |
| 99 | West Mayfield VFD | 3612 Knape Street | Beaver Falls | 15010 | West Mayfield Boro |
| 101 | Beaver VFD | 165 Market Street | Beaver | 15009 | Beaver |
| 103 | Ellwood City VFD | 411 6th Street | Ellwood City | 16117 | Ellwood City |
Source: https://www.pafirefighters.com/beaver.htm
What is the status or condition of WMVFD’s emergency response equipment and materiel?
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner, Pennsylvania State Fire Academy, Pennsylvania Fire Service Certification Advisory Committee: Participating Department Recognition Program
- “Organizations/departments that are currently active in the Participation Department Recognition Program.
- WMVFD not on list
- Pennsylvania Consolidated Statues Title 35, Chapter 74 Volunteer Firefighters, Subchapter D Special Fire Police addresses the matter of “special fire police;” and
- Subchapter D Special Fire Police defines the confirmation process of special fire police:
§ 7434. Confirmation. Special fire police nominated under this subchapter shall, before they enter upon their duties, be confirmed by the mayor of the city, the mayor of the borough or town, the chairman of the board of commissioners or supervisors of the township or the chief executive officer of a home rule municipality, as the case may be.
- The mayor of the Borough of West Mayfield has the express statutory obligation to confirm by oath any persons duly nominated by the West Mayfield Volunteer Fire Department to serve as a special fire police agent of the department.
- 2024 – Tip Board Raffle
- 2023 – Tip Board Raffle
- 2023 – Car Cruise Fundraiser
- 2023 – Election Day Soup and Bake Sale
- 2023 – Breakfast Fundraiser
- 2022 – Breakfast Fundraiser
- 2019 – Breakfast Fundraiser
- 2019 – Car Cruise Fundraiser
- 2018 – Breakfast Fundraiser
- 2017 – Breakfast Fundraiser
- 2016 – Breakfast Fundraiser
- 2015 – Breakfast Fundraiser
Social Hall Rentals
- Borough provides online reservation support via borough website.
Park Shelter Rental Concession
- Concession recinded by council, February 2024
Grants
- Periodic financial grants from Office of Pa Fire Commissioner
Note: The following recommendations are to be presumed speculative and incomplete until the FSRC has finished its fact-finding. Formal and final recommendations will be listed in FSRC’s final report to council.
FINAL DISPOSITION
FSRC may recommend:
Option A: Maintain the status quo
Opton B: Fire Service Corrective Action Plan
Leadership:
- Changes to WMVFD leadership
First Responder Staffing:
- Minimum staffing standards
Duty Performance
- Establish minimum duty performance standards
Reporting & Accountability
- Establish meaningful reporting standards
Municipal Financial & In-Kind Support
- Link municipal support to corrective action plan and outcomes
Final Outcomes
- If the WMVFD makes satisfactory progress on a corrective action plan, council moves to maintain WMVFD as its fire service provider
- If the WMVFD fails to make satisfactory progress on a corrective action plan, council moves to decertify WMVFD and outsource its fire service.
Option C: Decertification & Outsource Fire Service
If the WMVFD fails to make satisfactory progress on a corrective action plan or if council decides that a corrective action plan is not warranted, council moves to decertify WMVFD and outsource its fire service.
WMVFD In the News
- 2024 – West Mayfield VFRA found non-compliant in four areas during state audit
- 2023 – Beaver Falls community raises money for family of volunteer firefighter killed in crash
- 2020 – Crews Respond To House Fires In New Brighton
- 2011 – West Mayfield woman killed in house fire
- 2008 – A shed was destroyed and a nearby building damaged by fire Saturday night in the borough
FUNDING & FINANCES
FIRE COMMISSIONER GRANTS
Grant Funding from the Office of the State Fire Commissioner – To WMVFD:
- February 2024: WMVFD receives $13,061.55 (source: 2023-24 FCEMS Grant Recipients)
- January 2020: WMVFD receives $11,509.46 (source: Area Fire, Ambulance Companies Receive State Grants, Marshall Says)
- April 2016: WMVFD receives $11,967 (source: Sen. Vogel – Beaver County Emergency Responders Receive State Grants)
Notes:
- Between 2016 and 2024, WMVFD has received a total of $36,538 in grant aid from the Office of the State Fire Commissioner.
- Has WMVFD ever received a Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response “SAFER” Grant?
- Has WMVFD ever received a Assistance to Firefighters Grant?
SPECIAL MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Community Park Rental Concession
Proceeds earned by WMVFD:
- 2023: amount unknown
- 2022: amount unknown
- 2021: amount unknown
- 2020: amount unknown
Notes:
- For many years the borough has granted the community park shelter rental concession to the WMVFD. It is assumed that financial proceeds from the shelter rentals would benefit the fire department.
- It is unknown if a written agreemment exists between the borough and WMVFD detailing the terms and conditions of the agreement, including reporting requirements to council.
- Income from the park shelter concession does not appear in the Pennsylvania Auditor General’s audits of the West Mayfield Firemen’s Relief Association of West Mayfield. It is unclear if such monies are within the scope of these audits.
- A search of council meeting minutes between July 2019 to date yielded no report from the WMVFD regarding their financial gains from the park shelter rental concession.
- Between 2013 and 2024, the borough has (without charge) assisted the WMVFD’s park shelter concession by fielding approximately 115 online shelter reservation inquires via the borough’s website.
WMFRA CASH ON HAND
Source: Pa Auditor General audits (click link to view audits):
FUNDRAISING
TIP BOARDS
- Active now
- Started in Sept. 2023
- Proceeds earned by WMVFD:
- 2024:
- 2023:
- 2022:
- 2021:
- 2020:
SAUSAGE PANCAKE BREAKFASTS
- Popular all-you-can-eat fundraising activity for decades
- Not currently active
- 2023 (3 events): May 14, February 12, January 8
- 2022 (1 event): September 11
- 2019 (9 events): December 8, November 10, October 13, September 8, May 12, April 14, March 10, February 10, January 13
- 2018 (9 events): December 9, November 11, October 14, September 9, May 13, April 8, March 11, February 11, January 14
- 2017 (9 events): December 10, November 12, October 8, September 10, May 14, April 9, March 12, February 12, January 8
- 2016 (12 events): December 11, November 13, October 9, September 11, August 14, July 10, June 12, May 8, April 10, March 13, February 14, January 10
- 2015 (9 events): December 13, November 8, October 11, September 13, May 12, April 12, March 8, February 8, January 11
- 2014 (9 events): December 14, November 9, October 12, September 14, May 11, April 13, March 9, February 9, January
- 2013 (1 event): December 8
- Proceeds earned by WMVFD:
- 2024:
- 2023:
- 2022:
- 2021:
- 2020:
CAR CRUISE
- Popular fundraising activity in recent years
- Dates held:
- 2023
- 2019
- Proceeds earned by WMVFD?
DIRECT DONATIONS FROM COMMUNITY
From borough website post, The Volunteers (August 2013):
A recent analysis of the fire department’s fundraising efforts suggests that a lack of community awareness is largely responsible for a lack of material support from the community. After studying fundraising data from 2008 to 2012, the fire department learned that each year only 14% of West Mayfield households contribute to the department’s annual fundraising campaign.
In 2012, only 66 out of 479 households made a monetary donation of any kind.
Households aside, the donation rate for individuals stands at approximately 13%.
Census data show that nearly 70% of all borough households are “family households,” which are statistically more likely to need emergency services. Census data from 2011 also show that the median household income in the borough is $42,130—a figure well below county and state income levels.