Pittsburgh, Wilkinsburg Fire Departments To Merge

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The Pittsburgh and Wilkinsburg Fire Departments are officially merging.

Officials from both towns called the merger a win-win at a news conference Monday morning.

Under terms of the agreement, Wilkinsburg will pay the city $7.5 million over five years for fire protection. That will save Wilkinsburg about $600,000.

Wilkinsburg will keep its main fire station open, staffed with firefighters who are now City of Pittsburgh employees.

"We'll be able to provide them a municipal service at less of a cost to them, saving them hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. I'm also happy to tell you this will be of no cost to city taxpayers," Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said.

It's part of a 20-year deal with renewal options every five years.

The city already provides trash collection service for Wilkinsburg under a similar arrangement.

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