Brookfield and Hartford townships may merge fire service

BROOKFIELD — The Brookfield Township Fire Department may be entering into a contract to provide services for Hartford Township in the very near future.

Brookfield fire officials have made a proposal to Hartford trustees to provide services to Hartford Township under a three-year contract. Hartford trustees plan to make a decision on the proposal sometime in September.

Rebecca Whitman, Hartford trustee, said Hartford Township only has a volunteer fire department, which leaves Brookfield to respond to many emergency calls in Hartford.

According to a letter from Hartford Township trustees, Hartford had 221 emergency squad and fire calls in 2007. Of the 221 calls, Brookfield responded 166 times.

“We feel it is unfair for them to continue to do this without compensation so we are trying to contract with them for their services,” she said.

Brookfield Fire Chief Keith Barrett has proposed two options for continued service to Hartford Township. He said the plans allow Hartford to continue receiving services, and contribute more money to those services.

Read more in Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com