Oct 13, 2018 3 min read

A shortage of career firefighters in South Strabane Township Fire Department will mean the station at 1696 E. Maiden St. in the Pancake area of the township will not be staffed, starting Monday.

Fire Chief Scott Reese said he was notified Tuesday in a memorandum that the township supervisors voted not to continue to staff the station over concerns about the cost of overtime to cover the shortage. Reese said several of the township’s paid firefighters have recently left the department to take other positions, leaving the department short-staffed.

What is being done now is meeting the requirements of the collective bargaining agreement regarding minimum staffing, said Brandon Stanick, township manager. He said some of the firefighters had been working overtime and 16-hour days.

“We need to be responsible,” Stanick said.

Reese said he met with the supervisors and voiced his concerns. Traffic can be heavy in the area due to a construction project on Interstate 70 that will not be done until 2020. When there is a backlog on the highway, additional traffic often spills onto local roads, including East Maiden Street and Locust Avenue.

“I met with them and made my plea,” Reese said. “It can be tough getting around from one side of the municipality.”

Reese said there are usually six career firefighters on duty. The career staff covers 16 hours between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. Monday through Friday. Reese said before the staff shortage, two were at Station 1 in Pancake and four were posted at Station 2 on Oak Spring Road. Reese said two firefighters recently quit and another injured his knee, forcing an adjustment to the schedule. He said two firefighters had been manning each station until the supervisors decided to have all four work out of the Oak Spring station.

Even when staffed, Stanick said the firefighters at Pancake may not have always been at the fire station as their duties also included building inspections.

Stanick said the fire station in Pancake will remain operational and maintenance of the equipment and building will continue. Volunteer firefighters will continue to respond from the Pancake station.

Reese said the township recently accepted applications for firefighters. Candidates went through a physical agility test last weekend. Candidates who pass will take a written test Nov. 20. Reese said hiring may be done in December.

“But we have a limited amount of resources,” Reese said.

Reese said the staffing situation will likely be temporary. Stanick said the township is looking to hire two firefighters by the end of the year once the testing and interviews are complete.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and see how it works out,” Stanick said. “If need be,we will change and adapt.”