Three neighboring fire departments would merge into a single regional operation, under a newly released plan to improve fire and ambulance service in growing western Racine County.
The idea of consolidating the Union Grove-Yorkville, Kansasville and Raymond fire departments is included in a study showing that existing service, based largely on volunteer firefighters, might be inadequate to serve the region’s growing population.
Conducted by the nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum research group, the study was commissioned by the Union Grove-Yorkville Fire Department to examine the department’s current staffing and operations.
As an alternative to merging with neighboring departments, researchers found that the Union Grove-Yorkville department could keep pace with increased demand by contracting with a larger fire department or with a private ambulance operator.