Consolidating

The Oran Fire Protection District, the Scott County Rural Fire Protection District and the New Hamburg-Benton-Commerce Fire Protection District have begun discussing whether to consolidate the three rural fire protection districts in northernmost Scott County.

The proposal, which could increase their political and purchasing power and improve emergency coverage, is intriguing. Consolidated, the combined operations would constitute a 70-member department, increasing the pool of volunteer firefighters available at any given time. A consolidated district also would be able to distribute equipment where it is most needed, cutting down on response times and theoretically improving insurance rates for property owners.

NBC fire chief Greg Schwartzkopf said the districts already assist each other with any structure fire because they're all short-handed. Consolidating would formalize the arrangement.

Potential problems include settling on a tax rate and on representation on the district's board.

Cape Girardeau County does not have consolidated rural fire protection districts, but the subject has been discussed. The more rural nature of Scott County might make the proposition more attractive there.

Boone County has the state's largest consolidated fire district, consisting of much of the county outside the Columbia city limits. Some districts in St. Louis County also have consolidated. The idea is worth pursuing.