SOMERSET COUNTY, Pa. --
There was a heated meeting in Shade Township Thursday night in the wake of a fire where the local volunteer fire department didn't show.
Residents in Shade had a lot of questions for township supervisors. They want to know how they will stay safe without the Central City Volunteer Fire Department responding to calls. Supervisors said they are fed with the fire departments demands and they think they have a solution that could help.
Township supervisors claim they have given plenty of money to the fire department for its services, but they keep wanting more without fundraising on its own.
Currently, the fire department is refusing to answer calls until it gets the money needed for new equipment.
The tense situation was evident Wednesday night when a blaze erupted blocks from the fire house and no one responded. Crews from Scalp Level did show up, but starting Nov. 1, Scalp Level, Windber and Shanksville VFDs said they will not longer help Shade Township.
That leaves Hooversville and others to pick up the slack.
Supervisors said they want to start their own fire department and already have trained volunteers willing to help. They said they don't want to raise taxes in the current economy and that everyone has to make do with less including the fire department.
However, fire officials at Central City are standing firm, saying the extra $9,000 they are looking for is necessary.
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