With a single vote Monday night, South Connellsville Borough Council abruptly sidelined its own volunteer fire company from responding to emergencies inside the borough, a move that took effect immediately. From now on, Connellsville Township crews will be dispatched to 911 calls in South Connellsville, a change neighbors warn could tack on precious minutes when every second counts.
Chief Says He Was Blindsided By The Call
South Connellsville Volunteer Fire Company Chief Jeremy Grubbs says the department got no warning before the council pulled the plug. “I got a phone call that they shut the fire hall down,” Grubbs told reporters. He said the council shifted emergency coverage to another company located roughly seven to nine minutes away, according to CBS Pittsburgh.
Paperwork Fight Preceded The Shutdown Vote
Before the vote, borough leaders had pressed the volunteer company to turn over bank statements, training records, and other documents. Grubbs says the department did hand over the paperwork, but was told it arrived 90 days late. The council did not immediately respond to requests for comment, WPXI reported.
Neighbors Warn Extra Minutes Could Be Deadly
Some residents say sending fire crews from farther away could be more than a minor inconvenience on the worst days of someone’s life. Resident Floyd Leonard told reporters the move “boils down to a lot of people being put at risk,” and residents were expected to pack a Tuesday night meeting at the fire station to air their concerns, according to CBS Pittsburgh.
State Grants, Local Tension And A Wider Volunteer Squeeze
The showdown in South Connellsville is playing out as volunteer departments across Pennsylvania struggle with staffing, funding, and oversight. WPXI recently reported on a Big Beaver Borough department that moved to stop serving its borough amid manpower and funding disputes.
On paper, South Connellsville is among the outfits getting help: the department appears on the state’s FCEMS grant list as a recent recipient of funding for volunteer companies, according to the Pennsylvania OSFC.
Residents and fire company members say they want straight answers from borough leaders about why the council voted to cut local responders out of borough calls and what, if anything, the plan is to restore in-town coverage. The borough’s official website lists contact information and meeting agendas, but as of Tuesday had not posted a public statement about the shutdown, according to South Connellsville Borough.
