Officials of Jefferson Hills' largest volunteer fire company asked council last night for a larger portion of the roughly $60,000 state allocation based on their claim that firefighters of the other two companies do not meet minimum training standards adopted by the municipality.

Jefferson 885 wants about $30,000, which would mark a return to 2004-2007 percentage levels. That would leave about $15,000 for each of the Gill Hall and Floreffe companies.

Officials based their request on a stipulation attached to the Oct. 13, 2008, vote by council awarding each company one-third distributions, or $22,335.93, of the Pennsylvania Foreign Fire Insurance allocation for 2009. Funding is from a tax on insurance companies outside Pennsylvania that do business here.

The motion contained the stipulation that if Floreffe and Gill Hill did not comply with council's request to update their training, the allocation would change.

Before voting on next year's allocation, council will review the training certifications of every firefighter. The companies have until Oct. 23 to submit certification copies to borough Manager Douglas Arndt.

The main issue, said Kurt Christofel, training chief for the municipality, and chief of Jefferson 885, is the safety of firefighters and the public.

Earlier this year, council passed a resolution requiring firefighters to meet minimum training standards developed by Mr. Christofel and based on pending state legislation that will establish statewide standards.

Certification is awarded firefighters following a practical and written test demonstrating skills required by the National Fire Protection Association.

Mr. Christofel, an accredited instructor, offers training sessions year-round in the borough and at area community colleges.

However, no firefighter from the other companies took more than two sessions from him, he said, which is far below the standards.

"If they're getting training, where are they getting it?'' he said.

Mr. Christofel said about 75 percent of the 39 active firefighters in Jefferson 885 are certified. The certification is not required by the state.

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