During emergencies nobody works better together between agencies than emergency service providers. Unfortunately, this cooperation is often limited to operations and not administrative issues. Finding ways to share resources and consolidate efforts is becoming increasingly important, especially when fiscal resources begin to diminish.

Dr. Tim McGrath's doctorial dissertation focused on the topic of consolidation for emergency service providers. He has both the academic and the professional experience in consolidating emergency service resources. With today's demand for economic accountability, consolidation of departments or functional consolidation of specialized areas may provide an opportunity for enhanced services to your community and a reduction in costs.

There are many types of fire department consolidations. The six most common types are:

• Administrative Consolidation - Two or more fire departments maintain separate operations while some administrative/staff functions, such as clerical and personnel, are combined. An example would be a single Fire Chief overseeing both organizations.
   
• Partial Consolidation - Each department remains legally separate but a group is formed to perform special functions. This group would provide service to both communities but are employees of their respective organization. An example would be the sharing and staffing of a fire station.
   
• Functional Consolidation - Each fire department remains legally separate but perform special function(s) as if they were a one department. An example would be combined dispatch, apparatus maintenance, or a combined training program.
   
• Operational Consolidation - Each fire department remains legally separate but join together both administrative and operation functions, but delivery services as if they were one department.
   
• Selected Geographical Consolidation - Usually found in larger cities. Consolidation is utilized in lower incident areas where service demands are relatively low, while separate department operations are performed in higher service demand areas such as a downtown area.
   
• Full Consolidation - Two agencies completely merge into a single legal agency. All services demands in each community are looked at as a single function of the department and political boundaries become invisible.