Pa. Chief Charged with Threatening Firefighter

The New Florence fire chief was charged Tuesday with threatening a firefighter from another department as they responded to a call in August, according to St. Clair police.

Chief Keith Boring, 50, of New Florence told the firefighter during an expletive-laced phone call that he would kill him and his family, police said in the criminal complaint. Boring did not return a phone call for comment.

New Florence Deputy Chief Phil Ferris said Wednesday afternoon that department members had not had a chance to talk to Boring about the charges.

“The New Florence Volunteer Fire Department will continue to respond to emergency calls and situations as we have for the last 110 years,” Ferris said. “Even though there have been charges, there's innocence until proven guilty.”

Seward and New Florence fire departments were dispatched about 10 p.m. Aug. 20 to Laurel Ridge State Park to look for a person who had gotten lost. The Seward firefighter answered a phone call from Boring while on his way to the park, he told police.

“The victim placed his phone on speaker and allowed other firemen to hear the conversation, because he heard yelling immediately when he answered,” St. Clair police Sgt. Vicki Walker wrote in the criminal complaint.

Boring allegedly told the fireman: “I'm sick of the bull from up there. I'm coming to the fire hall right now to kill you. I don't care who else is around, including your family, or whoever gets in the way. ... I'll kill them, too,” according to the complaint.

The complaint did not mention what sparked the alleged tirade. Walker could not be reached Wednesday.

The fireman reported the incident to police when he returned to the fire hall. The person lost in the park was found and escorted out.

Boring is charged with terroristic threats, harassment and disorderly conduct.

He did not have an attorney listed in online court records. A preliminary hearing has not been set.

Boring is the second person from the New Florence fire department who has been arrested this month.

Assistant Chief Kenneth E. Steiner, 56, was charged with sexual assault and related crimes and was suspended from duty Oct. 6.

He is accused of having a sexual relationship two years ago with a juvenile who had joined the department's junior firefighter program.

Renatta Signorini is a staff writer for Trib Total Media.

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