PA Fire Co. Temporarily Closed Over Safety, Leadership Concerns

A volunteer Dauphin County fire department that’s struggled with leadership and how to respond to emergency calls has been shut down until new training and supervisors can be introduced, officials said.

Citizen’s Fire Co. #1 in Highspire will not be responding to fire calls for the foreseeable future, Public Safety Director Mark Stonbraker confirmed Thursday. He said the decision was made out of safety concerns for both the public and firefighters.

“For the past several years the fire company has been struggling with leadership and a number of concerns have been recently brought to Borough Council’s attention as to how the firefighters were responding to calls and the lack of leadership and direction at fire scenes,” Stonbraker said in an email to PennLive.

Lower Swatara Township, Steelton, and Middletown fire companies are temporarily handling emergency calls in Highspire Borough.

Citizen’s is comprised of about 18-20 volunteer firefighters, with two of them in supervisory roles, Stonbraker said. Borough officials want to appoint a fire chief and deputy chief from outside the department and are uncertain if, or how, current supervisors will be incorporated into a planned reorganization.

Stonbraker said additional fire training is planned for all of the Citizen’s volunteers.

Citizen’s will host fundraisers during the closure, and its social hall can still be rented.

©2022 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit pennlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.