A Ridley Township merger between the S.M. Vauclain and Leedom Fire Companies has created a new fire company under one roof—Ridley Township Fire Company Number 1, writes Pete Bannan for the Daily Times.

The merger happened Monday and had actually been planned for several years, with membership and township approval.

Merging the two companies makes better use of limited manpower.

Jay Mensack, president of the new company, said the merger was talked about 20 years ago when both companies experienced manpower and staffing issues.

Two years ago, they made the merger official.

Being a volunteer firefighter requires a lot of time between training and service, and the amount of calls to both companies had been going up. Last year, they each answered about 380 calls.

The merger will create a new company with about 30 members.

“It’s positive for Ridley and surrounding communities. It will make everything better,” Mensack said.

Ridley Township is the latest fire company merger in Delaware County triggered by a shortage of volunteers.

In the past 20 years, fire company mergers occurred in Collingdale, Aston, Middletown Township, Marcus Hook, Trainer, Essington, Lester, Morton and Rutledge.

Mensack expects more mergers in Delaware County’s future.

Read more about Ridley Township’s two fire companies, now one, in the Daily Times.