The rivalry between Reliance and Hope fire companies is longstanding, but growing animosity stemming from recent election results could lead Philipsburg Borough to shutter one of the century-old companies.
Though the stations are less than one mile apart, they operate with their own members, equipment, training and funds. Participating in an election every two years, members of both companies run for leadership positions on the Philipsburg Fire Department, which oversees Hope and Reliance and helps distribute additional funds on behalf of the Moshannon Valley Fire Council.
But this year, Reliance saw a greater voter turnout in the company’s social members — something borough officials and Hope volunteers believe made the election unfair.
In November, Reliance president Clayton Gilham was elected to serve as the next Philipsburg Fire Department chief — the first time in eight years a Reliance member was elected to the position.
One month later, the borough decided not to accept the results, citing concerns of validity.
The borough has never asked to see proof of the results before, but Philipsburg Mayor John Streno said this situation represents “an ongoing issue” with Reliance, its record keeping and management practices.
Until a list of voters and results are turned over to council, Streno said the borough will continue to recognize Hope Fire Company Chief Jeff Harris as Philipsburg Fire Department chief, continuing a yearslong reign.
Harris did not respond to requests for comment.
Though nothing is official, Streno said the Philipsburg Borough wants one fire company. To achieve that goal, Hope and Reliance must merge or the borough must revoke one of the companies’ certifications. Neither decision, he said, will be made easily.
“The borough’s of the opinion that we want one fire department, so it’s either by merging or taking one out of the picture,” Streno said. “If the council doesn’t do something now, everything will just stay the same, and there will continue to be some strife.”
Election results questioned
In September, Reliance opened a new fireman’s club and saw a surge of new members.
Because of this, Reliance saw a greater voter turnout in the company’s social members, who are those who don’t necessarily respond to calls, but are still permitted to vote in the department election.
In the past, the borough would always accept the election results for the positions on Philipsburg Fire Department unless there are questions, Streno said.
“Being a member of a fire company, what does that mean?” Streno said. “It’s not the people that sit in the social club and say, ‘Well, I’m a member because I paid for it, and that’s why I can vote in the election.’ ... should they really have a say?”
Hope Assistant Fire Chief Justin Butterworth said the only difference in the most recent election was the number of members from Reliance who voted, specifically members who have “never set foot in a fire house.”
“Many members of Hope were taken aback by the number of people who had no clue as to what they were really voting for,” Butterworth said. “They were brought in to just give (Reliance) a favorable number.”
Steno also takes issue with lack of election advertisements, and thinks Reliance recruited social members to vote in the election even if their role in the company was a result of the club.
In order to vote in the department election, Gilham said members — including volunteer firefighters and social members — must be in good standing with their respective company. On election night, voters sign in. Gilham said department bylaws were followed accordingly.
“People that wanted to get into office didn’t get into office, and rather than accept what happened, the other company went to the borough,” Gilham said. “My contention all along has been that while the borough has the right to certify a fire company, they can’t approve who we elect as chief.”
Gilham thinks council members are intervening in company operations — something he doesn’t think they have the grounds to do — and thinks Hope members should accept the election outcome.
Where is tension coming from?
The recent election isn’t the only reason Philipsburg is considering revoking Reliance’s certification, Streno said. The borough thinks Reliance is overburdened with its workload, setting the company back in its record-keeping.
“The problem with Reliance has been an ongoing issue. As far as the council is concerned, it’s been an issue for the last 10 years,” he said. “Part of the problem is that right now, Reliance is down on people. They’ve had a rough year health-wise, and they are way behind on their reporting.”
Gilham said Reliance has consistently worked to carry out its mission and protect residents from emergencies. ?While the borough takes issue with Reliance’s bookkeeping, Gilham has concerns with how the fire council allocates funds to the two companies, saying that they are “unequal.”
The Moshannon Valley Fire Council is funded through tax dollars collected by the borough, Rush Township and Decatur Township. Hope and Reliance can raise funds on their own but rely on additional money provided by the council. The council, Butterworth said, spends money as needed on a case-by-case basis.
“I can’t say that funds are evenly distributed dollar for dollar,” Butterworth said. “But, funds are distributed as they are asked for. Say Hope would go and ask the fire council to buy four tires for their fire engine and that would get approved, that doesn’t automatically mean Reliance will get four tires, too because they might not need them.”
Gilham said Reliance owned an engine that cost the fire council almost $40,000 in maintenance in 2017. After the company was instructed to stop using the engine due to expensive upkeep, Gilham said the company bought another engine with their own money. After the purchase, Reliance asked the council to help with maintenance cost, but the request was denied because the engine was not owned by the borough.
In 2016, Hope purchased an engine that is partly owned by the borough, Butterworth said. After meeting with the fire council, the borough and other townships to discuss a payment plan, Butterworth said the company received approval to take out a loan to help pay for the engine. In turn, the borough helps pay for maintenance.
“The engine (Reliance) purchased didn’t go through the right steps to gain approval,” Butterworth said. “There is not an equal amount distributed dollar-for-dollar, but the borough still does fund them and pays for their workers compensation, just as they do for us. They are required to do so by law.”
What’s next for Reliance and Hope fire companies?
Founded in the 1880s, Reliance and Hope fire companies are no stranger to competition, but over the years, the “friendly competition” has transformed into a genuine rivalry, Butterworth said.
In 2015, there was talk of merging the two companies, but Gilham said the agreement wasn’t equal to Reliance’s members, so the proposal was voted down.
With tensions between the borough and Reliance and among the companies, Butterworth is concerned that their missions have become lost.
“There’s always been a competitive nature between the two companies in town. That competitive nature used to encourage us to be better, to have more people, to have better training and better response times to emergencies, but that doesn’t really exist now,” Butterworth said. “The fires that we need to be worrying about are the ones that we’re called upon to put out, not what’s happening between two fire companies.”
Council will meet at 7 p.m. on Monday. Streno said decertifying Reliance might not be a discussion item, but Reliance members are urging community members to attend.
If Reliance loses its certification, Streno said fire protection will remain the same. In fact, he thinks the borough would save money by not having to allocate funds to two companies.
“I personally don’t want to see them go away,” Streno said. “I just wish they’d cooperate better, and we’ve been asking that for years.”
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