May 12—HAZLE TWP. — The board of supervisors and officials from two township fire departments are exploring possibly consolidating fire protection for the west side of the community.
The supervisors voted earlier this week to have two buildings off Route 924 that Hazle Twp. Volunteer Fire and Rescue operates from and the Harwood Fire Company's station on Old Street appraised as they explore merging the companies and having them operate from a new station that could be built on a baseball field in Harwood, supervisors' Chairman Jim Montone said.
The fire station on Route 309 near the Commons Building is not part of the proposal.
The concept is in the preliminary stages, as both Montone and Hazle Twp. Fire Chief Scott Kostician said a number of issues must be addressed before firefighters and the township would give further consideration.
"Nothing is cut into stone," Montone said.
Kostician said the idea amounts to "just talk" at this point.
"The appraisal is the first step at seeing what the properties are worth," Kostician said. "We didn't even go to the second phase to see the cost to build or what we need. We didn't vote on merging the companies (and) we don't even know what we need as far as a building yet. We are so preliminary but we are looking at the future."
Officials began discussing the concept in response to industrial projects proposed in that part of the township, Kostician and Montone said. Mericle Commercial Real Estate is developing a business park on 1,100 acres between routes 309, 924 and 424.
Firefighters would be better positioned to access Mericle's proposed park and Humboldt Industrial Park with a fire station at the Harwood ball field, Montone said.
Appraisals and costs of a new station will determine whether the concept is feasible, Montone said.
"We're getting someone to do the appraisals, see what they are worth and we'll sit down and talk again," Montone said.
If officials move forward, Montone believes the project would be "years down the road."
Kostician said Hazle Twp. Fire & Rescue buildings along Route 924 are known as stations 3 and 4.
One of those buildings is about 60 feet by 80 feet while the other is about 72 feet by 56 feet. They house an engine-rescue vehicle, a ladder truck, two utility trucks, a safety house and a trailer with materials for responding to incidents involving hazardous materials, Kostician said.
Harwood Fire Company serves parts of the township that include Cranberry, Crystal Ridge, Hollars Hill, Harwood, Humboldt Village, parts of Eagle Rock as well as Humboldt Industrial Park and other properties along Route 924 that include Humboldt Station and Humboldt North, according to its website. The fleet consists of a Seagrave engine, a tanker truck, a heavy brush truck, a light brush truck and at least two other vehicles.
Kostician said the membership hasn't voted on a potential merger, but said representatives from both companies and the supervisors have been "in negotiations on making one department."
"Like I said, it's very preliminary," the chief said. "We talked with the supervisors about how to save money with forming one department, with resources and all the equipment and manpower limitations."
With the township continuing to grow, Kostician said officials have to consider the future of fire protection, especially as equipment costs continue to rise.
Airpacks cost about $9,000 each, with the township's fire company equipped with 52 and Harwood's having about 14 more, Kostician said.
The township's new engine rescue vehicle for Humboldt costs about $1 million.
"Between Harwood and us, we have three of them," Kostician said. "Nothing is getting cheaper. Everything is getting more expensive."
Other factors, such as bylaws and property ownership must be taken into consideration, he said.
Harwood owns its property but Hazle Twp. owns the volunteer fire and rescue property, the chief said.
One possible scenario could involve building a firehouse on the Harwood baseball field, selling the Humboldt fire house and remodeling the firehouse in Harwood. That building could serve as a social house for fundraising, Kostician said.
"It's all very preliminary," he added. "Now, it's a lot of talk."
Contact the writer: [email protected]; 570-501-3586
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