Mayor Vetoes Decision to Close South Connellsville, PA, Fire Department
Firefighters at South Connellsville Volunteer Fire Department are responding again -- thanks to Mayor Chris Wiltrout.
"I think that is the right thing to do to veto the issue. I think that we need to have some more conversations," Wiltrout said after vetoing the council's decision to close the department.
The vote to shutter the department came suddenly Monday without fire officials or residents being notified, KDKA reported.
"I got a phone call that they shut the fire hall down. They passed it at the meeting. They voted to shut the fire company down. They're having another fire company come in and do fire protection, which is seven to nine minutes out," South Connellsville Volunteer Fire Company Chief Jeremy Grubbs said.
Ever since a borough official was asked to resign from the fire department, there's been a target on its back, the chief said.
About the Author
Susan Nicol
News Editor
Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.