-EMERGENCY RESPONSE-
Fire calls to 911 will go directly to Coraopolis Volunteer Fire Department as of Oct. 1.
Fire Chief Charles Spencer said the borough had been using a “ring down system,” which means fire calls were transferred to the Coraopolis Police dispatch and then routed to the fire department.
Spencer said at a Sept. 14 borough council meeting he was in talks with Allegheny County about the change.
“(We’re) just waiting for the radio company to come and reprogram our paging system,” Spencer said.
Police Chief Ronald Denbow said the change would not impact his department very much, since the number of fire calls coming through were not very high.
=After the meeting, Spencer said the change will better help with collaboration between mutual aid partners Neville, Robinson, Kennedy and Moon.
Chief Spencer said those collaborations with neighboring volunteer fire departments are vital because the Coraopolis Volunteer Fire Department is always looking for more volunteers.
Denbow echoed that sentiment, saying the real value of the switch was in working with other fire departments.
“Like anything, it’s hard to get employees,” Denbow said.
Spencer thinks the dearth of volunteers stems from a lack of free time, with many people now working multiple jobs and having family responsibilities.
– Staff Writer Elizabeth Perry