A potential merger of the Pembroke and Fairview Volunteer Fire Departments could take place in the future, but before that, the departments want to meet with the public.
Pembroke Fire Chief Nick Belair says they will host a public informational hearing on June 13 at 7 p.m. at the Fairview Volunteer Fire Department, where people will be able to voice their opinions and learn what the merger means.
He says if the proposal to combine the two departments is agreeable to the communities they serve and to Fairview Fire Department, they will move forward in the merger process.
Belair says he feels the merger would be greatly beneficial to both departments, not only financially but also with manpower. It would benefit the communities they serve, he says, by improving coverage, response time and even possibly lowering the insurance premium rates by doing so. If the merger were to occur, it would be all the same personnel and the departments would not relocate or change.
For more information on the public hearing, call the department at 270-475-4144.