Cressona, PA, Chief Calls for Fire Companies to Merge

Cressona’s fire chiefs is looking into the merger of two fire companies, a half-mile apart, to reduce costs and improve training.

By Michael Urban

Source Republican & Herald, Pottsville, Pa.

Nov. 21, 2025

4 min read

Cressona Fire Chief Dennis Snyder wants Cressona Fire Company Number One and Good Will Hose Company, with fire stations located about one half-mile apart, to merger to save money and improve operations.

For years, Cressona’s two fire companies have spoken sporadically about possibly merging, a topic that has again resurfaced with support from the fire chief.

“I’m an advocate for merger. I think it’s the best thing for the community,” said Cressona Fire Chief Dennis Snyder.

“It would have to be done extremely carefully, though. There is a lot of tradition with both companies. We don’t want either company to feel like they’re being swallowed up.”

Cressona Fire Company Number One and Good Will Hose Company have served the borough since 1899 and 1910, respectively, and their stations are located about one half-mile apart. Both companies respond to every call within the department’s jurisdiction, which includes the borough and a portion of North Manheim Township, Snyder said.

Mutual aid calls are at the discretion and availability of the two companies, and often depend on what type of apparatus is needed, since the equipment belonging to each company varies, he said.

During budget discussions at a Cressona Council meeting earlier in November, Snyder asked if the borough could increase its yearly contribution to the companies, which is now at about $2,500 each, he said.

The subject of merging arose, with council voicing support.

Though Snyder favors having the two fire companies come together as one, he acknowledged the change would have to be done thoughtfully to ensure that neither company feels like it’s getting pushed aside.

Both companies have the same mission of protecting the community, Snyder said, which is why he thinks a merger would work well.

Talk among firefighters in the community has continued since the meeting and has been positive, he said.

“Both companies seem to be open to it,” he said.

Snyder hopes the companies can soon schedule a meeting with representatives of both units to talk about how to proceed.

Advantages of merging include the combining of manpower, apparatus, equipment, and other resources, along with fundraising efforts, he said,

Serving as one company would better divide the workload and allow for more training together, he said.

Merging would also reduce operating expenses and mean less duplication of efforts, he said.

There are numerous issues that would have to be worked out for a merger to happen, he said.

Among them is whether to build a new station or retain either of the two current stations, he said.

Cressona Fire Company Number One is located at 59 S. Second St., and Good Will Hose Company is at 34 S. Sillyman St.

Over the years the two companies have met about the possibility of joining, and at times the idea seemed to gain some traction, but then it would fall to the back burner, he said.

There is a possibility that merging could result in some firefighters leaving, which is part of the reason why the department would have to handle the jointure delicately, he said.

Snyder works as pastor of Bethany Christian Fellowship in Cressona, and when he arrived there almost 20 years ago it had recently gone through a merger of two congregations. Bethany lost members in that process and felt like a church divided, taking years to unite again, he said.

“It got better but when I got there, but two years after the merger it still felt like two different congregations each Sunday,” he said. “It took time.”

That experience is proof of how important it is to recognize the value of both companies in a merger, and to handle the process fairly, he said.

Cressona Council President Linda Walinsky said that while the council favors a merger, it would not force the companies into that action.

The borough, which has a population of about 1,700, currently gets great service from both companies, she said.

“Individually both have very strong, passionate memberships, but they’d be a stronger unit together,” she said. “Over time, I’m sure we’ll get there.”

As much as Snyder favors a merger, there is no need to rush the process since the companies are financially solvent and have good volunteer bases, he said.

“We’re not struggling at this point, so it’s not a necessity to happen right now,” he said. “It’s more important to take our time and do it right. Hopefully at some point we can make it happen.”