Bessemer firefighters resign, borough looks for solutions to ensure adequate emergency response long-term
BESSEMER, Pa. - The Bessemer Borough Fire Department is facing changes after members resigned from the volunteer department late last week.
Council President Doug Ordak said approximately eight firefighters turned in their gear on Friday, with resignations submitted following ongoing internal discussions.
A maintenance employee who works for the fire department and the administration building, who asked not to be identified, said, "A few with personal agendas resigned. The borough has always supported the fire department and will continue to support the fire department."
While Ordak said the exact reasons for the resignations are unclear, he acknowledged that there had been informal conversations about the possibility of merging Bessemer's department with another nearby fire department due to declining volunteer numbers.
However, he emphasized that "no formal plan" for a merger was ever made.
"We're working through it," Ordak said, adding that since the walkout, a couple of former firefighters have returned, and the borough is actively looking to grow its roster again.
He said anyone interested in volunteering can contact the fire department.
The borough said in a statement, "We want to assure the community that a contingency plan is already in place to ensure continued fire and emergency response coverage," and that they "remain committed to the safety and well-being of our community and are actively working on long-term solutions to ensure consistent fire protection."
In the Facebook post, the administration added they've "been in communication with these partner departments, and they have reaffirmed their commitment to responding to calls within the borough during this time," and added, "The only change you may notice is the presence of vehicles from neighboring departments such as North Beaver, Mahoning, or Springfield Township, rather than a Bessemer Fire Department vehicle."
The resignations followed a Thursday night meeting among department members, who reportedly agreed to step down the following day.
No one from the fire department or borough council agreed to an on-camera interview or would comment further when asked Monday.
21 News tried to reach other Bessemer administrative officials and did not hear back.
