Firehouse.com

SOMERSET COUNTY, Pa.

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There were a lot of questions Thursday night for Central City firefighters as they tried to explain their financial hardships to the community. Residents may be at risk of losing their fire protection.

However, fire protection is just part of the problem. If the Central City Fire Department in Somerset County is forced to cut back its services, residents could be paying a lot more on their homeowners' insurance.

There was a strong turnout at Shade High School as Central City Fire Chief Dale Russian laid out the department's budget. He showed how the money from fundraisers and grants doesn't equal their expenses. In fact, the department has a projected deficit for 2008 of $23,000.

Russian also outlined the ISO ratings fire departments get and what will happen to people's insurance if that rating drops. He said it could double or they can even be dropped from their insurance.

"You need that kind of quick response service with the elderly in this area," said Stacie Tranovich of Central City. "There's also a lot of fires in this town. We need this."

"It's a deteriorating situation where no one is really caring," said Dave Leipchack of Shade Township. "The fire company is working hard and trying to do what's right. I don't know what our township is doing."

One idea being tossed around is trying to get Central City and Shade Township to institute a fire tax. Residents told WJAC TV they would rather pay the tax than see their insurance skyrocket.