08 September 2023- As many have noticed over the last weeks and months, things may not exactly be cozy between the Borough of Waynesboro and their Volunteer Fire Department. Stemming from problems with apparatus for the department, a Pennsylvania Auditor General’s Report, and eventually ending with an ordinance, tensions between the municipality and the Volunteers has likely never been higher.
That is why the Volunteers have made the decision to fully separate their dealings with the Borough. Their full and unedited release announcing the separation is below.
The Waynesboro Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., a 501(c)(3) Pennsylvania non-profit, this week provided notification to the Borough of Waynesboro of their intent to no longer be affiliated with the Borough of Waynesboro after December 29, 2023. This notification was provided to the Borough of Waynesboro Council from the Waynesboro Volunteer Fire Department attorney.
In addition, notice was given by the Waynesboro Volunteer Fire Department that they will be relocating all of their titled apparatus to a location that will fully serve the volunteer department operations. The Waynesboro Volunteer Fire Department will continue to respond to the Borough of Waynesboro alarms as a “mutual aid”.
The decision by the Council of the Borough of Waynesboro to take unilateral actions to enact a career Fire Department Control Ordinance did not consider the Volunteer Fire Department and its firefighters. The Borough has chosen to follow the operational and policy positions of the Borough of Waynesboro employed Fire Chief, which are detrimental to the Volunteer Fire Service and the charitable mission of the Volunteer Fire Department.
The Waynesboro Volunteer Fire Department members will continue to serve the residents and businesses of the current call districts as it has for many decades. The Waynesboro Volunteer Fire Department has existed for more than 140 years and currently has 344 members.
Additional information regarding this can be obtained from Terry Reiber, First Vice President of the Waynesboro Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. at treiber47@gmail.com or 240.469.7653.
