Lack of Members Forces W. Va. Dept. Closure

July 1, 2011
MARSHALL COUNTY, W.Va. -- A local fire department has closed as of Thursday morning. The Fish Creek Volunteer Fire Department in Marshall County cited "lack of membership" and the "added burden of the requirements for local volunteer fire departments set forth by the State Fire Commission" as reasons for the closure in a news release.

MARSHALL COUNTY, W.Va. --

A local fire department has closed as of Thursday morning.

The Fish Creek Volunteer Fire Department in Marshall County cited "lack of membership" and the "added burden of the requirements for local volunteer fire departments set forth by the State Fire Commission" as reasons for the closure in a news release.

The four-member department is south of Moundsville and about six miles from state Route 2. County officials told NEWS9 that as soon as they received the letter from Fish Creek's fire chief, they immediately set out to create a coverage plan for the area.

The Marshall County Commission has announced that county Emergency 911 Director Larry Newell and County Fire Association President Brad Varlas have implemented an emergency plan for the FCVFD coverage area. The plan includes assistance from departments such as Washington Lands, Moundsville, Saint Joe and Roberts Ridge Volunteer Fire Departments. The coverage plan is in place for any emergency or EMS calls.

Fish Creek's closure follows the closing of the Big Wheeling Creek Volunteer Fire Department, but this is a different situation. The state fire marshal shut down Big Wheeling Creek because of the department's lack of worker's compensation. County officials said they are concerned about the state fire commission's requirements put on small volunteer departments.

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