Manor Township Fire Chief Chad Evans discussed the results of invoicing insurance companies for costs of responding at incidents with the township supervisors.
MANOR - Manor Township Fire Department started billing insurance companies for expenses they might incur while at an accident scene or incident last March. However, the results have been less than expected.
Supervisor Don Palmer publicly disclosed in a July 5 meeting that total from billing was less than 20 percent of the total billing.
“They billed for a total of $2,100 and so far have been paid $400,” Palmer said.
Fire Chief Chad Evans said Erie Insurance was one of the worst non-pay offenders.
“We had a lady wreck and we sent to the insurance and they put it in another envelope and sent it to her, sent the towing bill to her, and other stuff. She said that  she’s had over $2,000 worth of stuff she had to pay for that Erie didn’t pay for.”
Evans said the fire department does not bill property owners for services.
“We ripped her check up and said ‘Listen, we ain’t gonna accept a payment from you,’ ” Evans said. And that was a pretty pricey one. We ran a couple hours with the pumper. A gas tank erupted and we had fuel all over the place.” Â
Evans told supervisors that a compound known as “Oil Dry” costs approximately $13 per bag. The fire department often uses two bags at an accident scene. Â
Firefighters receive approximately $10,000 per year through fund-raising letters, which were sent out in April. Evans said the fire department will spend $30,000 per year on the fire engine and air packs. He said local residents regularly support the department through such activities as roast beef dinners.
The next meeting of township supervisors is scheduled for Wednesday, July 26 at 5PM.
Neat idea, but insurance companies are in the business to make a profit, not to make donations.
If government forces insurance companies to make these sorts of payments, then the insurance companies will comply and simply raise their premium rates.
And, the insured will pay the higher premiums and, thereby, make the donation to the volunteer fire companies.
The costs all go back to the consumer.