West County Paramedic Association (WCPA) Restructures

Fairview Township now has a seat at the table. West County Paramedic Association (WCPA), an organization offering both Advanced Life Support (ALS) services and Basic Life Support (BLS) services in our area, has been governed by eight western Erie County fire companies since its inception. All of that changed in January when those fire departments adopted new Articles of Incorporation establishing
municipalities as members. This necessary change was a long time coming. For far too long, the wonderful volunteers from Fairview Fire & Rescue and Lake Shore Fire Department, along with representatives from six other fire companies, were tasked with the impossible—keep WCPA afloat without any municipal aid. The constantly evolving landscape that is Emergency Medical Services (EMS) has seen labor shortages, rising costs, and declining insurance payments take their toll on the industry. EMS is no longer self-sufficient. And this isn’t an isolated, local problem; it’s nationwide. Local governments all across the country have long enjoyed the spoils of EMS providers finding a way to get the job done. But it’s not sustainable, which is why Fairview Township has teamed up with the Boroughs of Girard, Lake City, and Platea and the Townships of Girard and Springfield to bring long overdue municipal stability to this life saving organization. Section 607 of the Second Class Township Code charges your Supervisors “to secure the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the township.” This is a responsibility we take very seriously.