A proposed consolidation of fire services in several Avonworth communities got an official nudge forward from Emsworth Council Wednesday evening.

Council unanimously approved a motion to file a letter of intent to form a “fire district” for the purposes of consolidating buildings and equipment. According to Emsworth Council member Paul Getz, filing the letter of intent allows the municipalities involved to obtain additional state assistance with the consolidation process at no charge to any of the communities.

Getz said that the fire district is designed to include all of the communities now served by either the Emsworth or Ben Avon volunteer fire companies: Emsworth, Ben Avon, Ben Avon Heights, Kilbuck Township and Glenfield. The other municipalities currently pay the neighboring boroughs for fire protection, Getz said, whereas they would have an equal voice in governing a fire district and each would be charged based on a predetermined formula that would ensure that they pay their “fair share.”

The fire district also will eliminate the costly duplication of equipment among the existing fire companies, ensure that there are adequate volunteers to provide services, and maintain the excellent level of service already enjoyed by the communities, Getz said.

Getz said that local officials had hoped the area would become Allegheny County’s first fire district, but they were edged out by a district comprised of Crafton, Ingram and Carnegie that was just approved.

Council members Tom Madey and Ken Kroen were absent.