I have done periodic columns about the benefits of having small police departments in nearby communities study the benefits of merging forces. Fire companies in smaller communities are looking at doing the same.

Most recently, the Lansford and Coaldale fire companies are interested in exploring a study that would determine whether the combined departments would be more beneficial to their respective communities.

Earlier this month, the councils of both boroughs agreed to ask the state Fire Commissioner’s Office to do a no-cost study of the operations of both departments, then make recommendations on improving efficiency and functionality.

Whether this leads to a merging of the two departments is an open question. Representatives of both departments stressed that nothing is cast in stone at this point; the desire is to improve operations and to let the recommendations of the state organization possibly determine in which direction to go.

To many local government officials, the word “merger” strikes fear and loathing into their hearts, because they see it as a loss of local control and tradition. There is a lot of pride in a community’s fire department.

Let’s also be honest: When two or more local entities join forces, it means that leadership that had fallen to one individual or a group of individuals must now be shared for the greater good. This loss of power does not always go down well, even though giving up some power might be in the best interest of struggling and challenged organizations and their communities.

Fire company mergers in Pennsylvania have been going on for more than two decades. Since 2000, there have been about 125 such mergers and consolidations throughout the state, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, which helps the departments decide what level of cooperation and collaboration is most appropriate for them. The number of requests for help to form partnerships keeps rising, the department said.

As Coaldale Fire Chief Steve Polischak told borough council members recently, this process will not bring about change overnight. It’s a long process that might lead to something or might not. He characterized it as a “start in the right direction.” He also likened approval of both councils as “baby steps” that could produce substantive improvements at some point down the line.

Lansford Fire Chief Zach Gilbert told his council essentially the same thing, noting that combining fire companies is just one possibility but much depends on what the study shows and the recommendations made. He also noted that there is no time frame for doing the study.

Both companies already provide reciprocal services and seek joint grants, so this move would be a logical next step.

The most recent fire company merger in our area was a little more than a year ago when Mount Carbon and American Hose Fire Co. No. 2 of Pottsville joined forces to “improve community public safety services.” The companies serve the city of Pottsville, the borough of Mount Carbon and part of North Manheim Township.

Many volunteer fire, rescue and emergency medical services organizations are struggling to meet the challenges of getting enough volunteers to maintain a fiscally responsible response team that is able to provide top-notch service to the communities they serve.

According to the Pennsylvania Fire and Emergency Services Institute, there were about 300,000 volunteer firefighters in the 1970s in the commonwealth. This number has dropped to about 35,000 today. This shows how dire the volunteer situation is and why local companies are concerned about what this means if the trend continues.

By Bruce Frassinelli | tneditor@tnonline.com

The foregoing opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board or Times News LLC.