In the middle of the night, in the middle of a snow storm, while we were responding to a call, in the middle of a pandemic:
On December 16 2020, the Cheltenham Township Commissioners went along with a plan proposed by the Fire Marshal to close Station 5 in Elkins Park. This action was not on the agenda, and not properly proposed to fire board, and then to the Public Safety Committee before coming to the full Commissioner Meeting.
Just as has been done by this Fire Marshal previously, a fire company is shut down without its members being involved in the decision. They used the term decertification, which indicates a less than qualified situation exists. Although, membership is down, a deadline or even an opportunity to turn things around was never afforded Ogontz. The commissioners should have just said "we are shutting you down because we want to".
We were the first response to our own district, Township Line from Forest to Washington Lane, to Ashbourne Rd to Old york. They are saying there is no impact to service as our neighboring companies are valiently providing coverage. However, minutes and seconds count.
We also were on every call to Lamott to aid that district and always responded as needed throughout our township and neighboring Jenkintown and Abington.
If the plan was truely for the best of the township, we would have been happy to be a part of the transformation. It is not. We were not.
We ask our residents especially to endorse our request to PAUSE and REVERSE this deicsion for at least 1 year.
Updates
January 19, 2021
I have been reading through your stories about what Station 5 means to this community and I am humbled by your willingness to speak up. It is clear that this is about so much more than just a building because it is about the safety of our neighbors. I am currently working to get our concerns in front of the right people.
January 19, 2021
I am truly stunned by the level of support for this fire company. It is humbling to see how much this station means to all of you who have taken the time to show your care.
10 Comments
I hope the township understood the liability they took closing a fire house. I hope the township read the standards of the NFPA 1720 with regards to fire apparatus response. I hope the township understand this may affect the insurance ratings to the taxpayers. I hope the township understands that they closed a rescue company that may someday would have been the closest vehicle extrication company for someone who may be trapped in a vehicle accident. I hope the township understands they closed a fire house that protects the township building and many other prominent religious buildings I hope the township knows that they closed a service incorrectly with out due process. I hope the township supervisors or the fire marshal doesn’t need a member of Ogontz helping them.
You action has put an additional on the other 4 companies and the mutual aid companies that could be the breaking point
Being a former member of Ogontz fire company. It saddens me that a township would do this without telling the organization. Please reconsider your decision and let the public decide
I am a life member and joined Ogontz in 1967. Please reverse and delay your decision for at least one year.
Its a disgrace to shut down a fire house in the middle of a pandemic and a snowstorm when they in the trucks and responding to a fire shame on you board of commissioners.
I would like to say , I don't know much about the ogontz fire department, but I'm sure they're essential just as much as any other fire department, hospital and so on. If you get rid of the fire department You're putting your own township at risk in a sense because if that's the first responders to every fire, car accident , whatever the case is if that's the first responders don't get rid of the only helping hand that they have.. thank you
Ogontz Fire Company has been an asset to The residents of Cheltenham Township for a long time. The equipment they have requires many hours of training and they always were dependable. Re-evaluate this decertification, I am sure there are worse off departments.
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In the middle of the night, in the middle of a snow storm, while we were responding to a call, in the middle of a pandemic:
On December 16 2020, the Cheltenham Township Commissioners went along with a plan proposed by the Fire Marshal to close Station 5 in Elkins Park. This action was not on the agenda, and not properly proposed to fire board, and then to the Public Safety Committee before coming to the full Commissioner Meeting.
Just as has been done by this Fire Marshal previously, a fire company is shut down without its members being involved in the decision. They used the term decertification, which indicates a less than qualified situation exists. Although, membership is down, a deadline or even an opportunity to turn things around was never afforded Ogontz. The commissioners should have just said "we are shutting you down because we want to".
We were the first response to our own district, Township Line from Forest to Washington Lane, to Ashbourne Rd to Old york. They are saying there is no impact to service as our neighboring companies are valiently providing coverage. However, minutes and seconds count.
We also were on every call to Lamott to aid that district and always responded as needed throughout our township and neighboring Jenkintown and Abington.
If the plan was truely for the best of the township, we would have been happy to be a part of the transformation. It is not. We were not.
We ask our residents especially to endorse our request to PAUSE and REVERSE this deicsion for at least 1 year.
Updates
January 19, 2021
I have been reading through your stories about what Station 5 means to this community and I am humbled by your willingness to speak up. It is clear that this is about so much more than just a building because it is about the safety of our neighbors. I am currently working to get our concerns in front of the right people.
January 19, 2021
I am truly stunned by the level of support for this fire company. It is humbling to see how much this station means to all of you who have taken the time to show your care.
10 Comments
being an insurance executive, This will have a direct impact on Insurance Service Office fire rating. Homeowners and business insurance premiums can increase. Is what they did legal ?
I hope the township understood the liability they took closing a fire house. I hope the township read the standards of the NFPA 1720 with regards to fire apparatus response. I hope the township understand this may affect the insurance ratings to the taxpayers. I hope the township understands that they closed a rescue company that may someday would have been the closest vehicle extrication company for someone who may be trapped in a vehicle accident. I hope the township understands they closed a fire house that protects the township building and many other prominent religious buildings I hope the township knows that they closed a service incorrectly with out due process. I hope the township supervisors or the fire marshal doesn’t need a member of Ogontz helping them.
You action has put an additional on the other 4 companies and the mutual aid companies that could be the breaking point
Being a former member of Ogontz fire company. It saddens me that a township would do this without telling the organization. Please reconsider your decision and let the public decide
I am a life member and joined Ogontz in 1967. Please reverse and delay your decision for at least one year.
Its a disgrace to shut down a fire house in the middle of a pandemic and a snowstorm when they in the trucks and responding to a fire shame on you board of commissioners.
I would like to say , I don't know much about the ogontz fire department, but I'm sure they're essential just as much as any other fire department, hospital and so on. If you get rid of the fire department You're putting your own township at risk in a sense because if that's the first responders to every fire, car accident , whatever the case is if that's the first responders don't get rid of the only helping hand that they have.. thank you
Ogontz Fire Company has been an asset to The residents of Cheltenham Township for a long time. The equipment they have requires many hours of training and they always were dependable. Re-evaluate this decertification, I am sure there are worse off departments.
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being an insurance executive, This will have a direct impact on Insurance Service Office fire rating. Homeowners and business insurance premiums can increase. Is what they did legal ?