McKees Rocks council president says volunteer fire department wasn't decertified
MCKEES ROCKS, Pa. (KDKA) - There's a question of what's to become of the McKees Rocks Volunteer Fire Department.
On Facebook, the department said they've been decertified by the borough council and can't respond to emergencies. The council said that is not the case.
A letter sent to the firefighters from the council says the department is no longer the lead in the borough. Instead, it's to be the Preston Volunteer Fire Department in Stowe Township. They still want the McKees Rocks Volunteer Fire Department to be a number two.
"Just so you know, we are not decertifying anybody. We are trying to leave the door open to be a department. We are not voting to decertify anyone," McKees Rocks Borough Council President Archie Brinza said.
The fire department said while the council hasn't used the word decertification, their actions point to the department being decertified or unrecognized by the borough, which they said means they can't respond to emergencies. Brinza said they can still respond to calls for help.
"That's going to come down on them, if they still choose to still fight fires here," Brinza said.
Firefighters said if they are not the number one, there is a gray area of if insurance still covers them for injuries or not. They also argue that the Preston Volunteer Fire Department answers about half the yearly calls they do and doesn't always have the manpower to respond.
"Those numbers get looked at because everyone wants them to look like they don't, they don't. When they are called upon, they never miss," Brinza told media outside the borough council chambers.
On Friday, inventory was done by the borough inside the fire department. The council president said it's just to see who owns what.
"We want to know what we have, what they have, just in case we do cut ties, but we don't want that," Brinza said.
Their letter says the department can remain in their current location for a reasonable amount of time while they look for a new space, which the volunteer firefighters think means they're being asked to move out.
The fire department's attorney did not want to do an interview on Friday. The borough hopes to resolve this issue, while the fire department fears this could have to go to court. There is a council meeting on Tuesday at 7.
