MANOR -- When the water flow is low, volunteer firefighters in the county are trained to work around it. When the cash flow is low, it is a larger problem.
Officials of the Armstrong County Firemen's Association say the organization is locked in a struggle for financial survival. The Association is comprised of 31 Armstrong County and two Westmoreland County fire departments.
Association president, Ernie Earley of the Sugarcreek Fire Department, told members Monday that the association was losing about $3,500 a month on its prime source of revenue, monthly cash prize ticket sales.
Earley said the group sells monthly cash chance tickets on which it relies to raise enough revenue to meet monthly expenses such as utility bills, insurance, fire tower mortgage payments and equipment and supplies for training programs. A one-time, $200 benefit to the families of deceased members is also included.
Each month, the respective fire companies are asked to sell a number of books. The Association raises $8,000 to $8,500 monthly and pays out more than $6,000 in cash prizes, the largest being $1,000. The association averages about $1,800 monthly in profit.
"Our monthly expenses far exceed our gross profit, " he said. "Obviously, we're just not generating enough revenue to keep us going."
Secretary-treasurer John W. Johnson said the association had to tap into its certificates of deposit to meet recent budget deficits.
Association member and Kittanning Borough fire marshal Earl "Buzz" Kline said the association provides vital services and training to member fire departments.
"We provide training that simply is not available anywhere else in the county," he said.
Some of the training offered includes fighting structure fires, flammable liquids fires, in-depth fire extinguisher training, classes on fire fighting techniques and updates in fire fighting strategies.
Kline said the association is currently in need of $30,000 to cover repairs to the fire tower, a three-story brick structure used for training on structural fires.
Kline suggested that the association apply for a $250,000 grant to meet current needs and update training facilities. However, the association must continue to rely on monthly cash chance ticket sales to meet part of its needs, he added.
"Many individual fire companies are struggling to keep afloat with bingos, games of chance and various raffles. But the Association must keep afloat too in order to provide the training and services our firefighters need," Kline said.
Any business owner interested in offering the association's monthly chance tickets may call Kline at 724-548-1686.
