Understanding the Monsey Fire Department Shakeup: How the System Actually Works

Yisroel R.

As the Monsey Fire District moves forward with its separation from Brewer Fire Engine Company No. 1 and its transition to the newly formed Monsey Fire Rescue Company, many Monsey residents are wondering what happened and how the fire agency system actually works.

To understand what is happening in Monsey, it is important to first understand the difference between a fire district and a fire company.

What Is a Fire District?

Just as the country is divided into congressional districts for elections, different communities are divided into areas for fire protection, these are called fire districts.

A fire district is a government municipality responsible for making sure its designated area has fire protection. It is funded through local property taxes and is run by five elected fire commissioners.

The commissioners oversee the district's budget, fire trucks, equipment, and other resources needed to protect the community.

What Is a Fire Company?

A fire district is basically an area on a map, but who actually provides the fire protection services?

This is where fire companies come in.

Fire companies are separate and private organizations, sometimes for-profit, sometimes volunteer. They arrange an agreement with the fire district to provide the firefighting services in those designated areas under the fire district's map.

Once an agreement is reached, the fire district provides the fire company with funding, fire trucks, and equipment, while the fire company provides the firefighters who respond to emergencies.

Although they work together, the fire district and the fire company remain two separate organizations.

A Simple Example: A Shul and a Catering Company

Think of a shul that owns a simcha hall but has a separate catering company operating it.

The shul owns the hall and oversees the property, while the catering company handles the events and provides the services.

If the shul decides to stop working with that catering company, it can make an agreement with another company to operate in the hall.

The hall remains the same, and the shul still owns it. What changes is the company providing the services.

While fire protection operates under different laws and rules, the basic idea is similar.

How Does This Apply to Monsey?

For over 124 years, the Monsey Fire District worked with the "Brewer Fire Engine Company No. 1," which provided volunteer firefighters to respond to emergencies throughout the district.

Although they worked together for many years, Brewer and the Monsey Fire District were always separate organizations.

The district's five fire commissioners have now voted to move forward with a different fire company, the newly formed "Monsey Fire Rescue Company."

As previously reported by Rockland Daily, the district announced on Thursday, October 29 that the transition had taken full effect and instructed Brewer members to return all district-issued firefighting equipment and gear.

The Monsey Fire Rescue Company continues to grow as it recruits additional volunteer firefighters, including many former Brewer Fire members who are now switching over to work for the newly formed Monsey Fire Rescue Company.

Basically, same fire department, but a new fire company.

So What Actually Changed?

The Monsey Fire District has not been replaced. Its boundaries, government structure, members, and equipment, and responsibility to provide fire protection remain in place.

What changed is the fire company working with the fire district.

Summary: Instead of using the Brewer Fire Engine Company, the district is now working with the Monsey Fire Rescue Company to provide great and efficient firefighting services to the community.