Bristol and Mecca Twps prepare for joint fire district merger

Bristol and Mecca Township fire departments are re-igniting efforts for a merger to form a joint fire district.

Bristol Fire Chief Steve Craiger says the two townships will now form a committee consisting of both fire chiefs and two trustees to evaluate the financial feasibility of the merge, and oversee the legal aspects of the process.

That committee will dissolve at the completion of the merger and be replaced by a board, which includes citizen representatives.

"There are quite a few benefits to a joint district," Craiger explains. "There are several in Trumbull County and Mahoning County. So we kind of use those as a model."

With combining two jurisdictions of about 25 square miles each, the joint fire district will continue to operate out of both stations in Mecca and Bristol townships. That means the district will be able to maintain their current response times, alongside a handful of other features.

"Our trucks will say Bristol, theirs will say Mecca," Chief Craiger notes. "But there will also be a sticker on there that says it's part of a joint fire district. Which, is one of the unique things -- you retain your identity, but you work together."

Ultimately the move toward a joint district is in an effort toward more financial efficiency, while expanding resources available between the two townships.

"There are more grants at the state level and federal level that are available for joint districts. They like to fund them more than individual departments," Craiger adds. "Small townships like Mecca and Bristol, we can not afford a million dollar fire truck. So we have to find another way to do business, and merging together hopefully will be that way."

The merge is expected to be finalized by the end of 2025.