Bellevue fires volunteer firefighters

With no prior notice to the public, a majority of Bellevue Council voted tonight to decertify the Bellevue Volunteer Fire Company as the fire service provider for the borough. The move leaves Bellevue with two paid firefighters and completely dependent upon the City of Pittsburgh for fire emergency services. There was no indication on the agenda that council planned to address such a motion at tonight's meeting. Instead, council voted at the last minute to approve a change to the agenda and council member Tom Hrynda made the motion to decertify Columbia Hose, Hook and Ladder Co. 1, the Bellevue volunteer fire company. Council member Amanda Sloane read a recommendation from the fire services committee that the VFC be decertified immediately, citing a need for urgency because, she said, the VFC was making plans for mergers "behind our backs." She referenced the fact that the Bellevue and Ben Avon VFCs are expected to appear in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas this Friday to obtain approval of a merger of the companies that has been in the works for months, and is public knowledge. Sloane said that fire calls in Bellevue will now be answered by the City of Pittsburgh at no cost to the borough. Council members Dan McKelvey and Sabreena Miller argued that action should not be taken until all officials had the opportunity to review the fire services committee report and the public had the opportunity to weigh in. The two were the only members of council who voted against the motion. Voting in favor were Sloane, Hrynda, council president Jodi Cerminara and members Jillian Edmondson, Jeff Stuncard and Jennie Denton. The Citizen will update this story with more details in its regular Friday edition. Update: 11:40 p.m. Tuesday, March 28 All equipment owned by the Bellevue Volunteer Fire Company was immediately removed from the fire station. That equipment includes four fire trucks and all communication, protective and rescue equipment. At this time, Bellevue has one inoperable fire truck, no air tanks or bunker suits that could be used to fight fires, no rescue tools, and an outdated radio communications system, according to volunteer firefighters.