Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Difference Between the Monterey Fire Department and the Monterey Fire Company?
In case there is still any confusion about the difference between the Monterey Fire Department and the Monterey Fire Company, we can think of no better explanation than the one Steve Pullen offered at Town Meeting. Still, it is worth reviewing the important distinction, as the two are often confused.
The Monterey Fire Department is a town department responsible for providing emergency services. It responds to emergency calls and is supported by taxpayer funds. The Department purchases, owns and maintains all firefighting and EMS equipment, including fire trucks and other vehicles, the boat, turnout gear, firefighting equipment, and supplies. It also covers the operating costs associated with providing these services, including compensation for full-time, part-time and per diem personnel, insurance for personnel and equipment, and training.
The Monterey Fire Company is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1978, that owns and maintains the fire station. Its origins go back to a time when the original firehouse stood farther east on Main Road, across from the New Marlborough Road intersection. As the town grew and the Department's needs expanded, a larger fire truck became necessary, but it would not fit in the existing station. When the firefighters requested funding to build a larger firehouse, the request was turned down by the Select Board. In response, the firefighters took matters into their own hands and formed the Monterey Fire Company. They raised private funds and built a new fire station, with many Company members contributing their own labor.
Today, the town leases the fire station from the Fire Company, and the rental fee helps cover the building's day-to-day operating expenses. The Fire Company also raises funds, primarily through its annual Steak Roast, to support building maintenance and improvement projects. In recent years, these projects have included renovating the living quarters, painting the building, installing new siding, and paving the parking area.
This arrangement has served the town successfully for many years. Although the two organizations work closely together, they have distinct roles: the Fire Department provides emergency services and manages the equipment and personnel needed to do so, while the Fire Company owns and maintains the station and supports its upkeep through fundraising and rental income.
To avoid any potential conflict of interest, Chief Tryon stepped down as president of the Fire Company this year. At the Company's annual meeting last spring, Keegan Wellauer was elected as the new president. Keegan grew up in Great Barrington and Monterey and joined the Monterey Fire Department as a junior firefighter as a teenager. He has since become a full-time firefighter and paramedic in Maine while remaining an active member of both the Monterey Fire Company and the Monterey Fire Department.
We hope this clarifies the difference between these two organizations and helps everyone better understand the important, complementary roles each plays in serving our community.