Pennsylvania Officials Air Fire Company Dirty Laundry

April 23--Amid a swirl of rumors about closing the Walnuttown Fire Company, Richmond Township supervisors cleared the air Monday in a special meeting with firefighters, only to learn about long-simmering tensions with the Fleetwood Fire Company.

The special meeting was called to deny the closure rumors and begin a discussion about securing the Walnuttown and Virginville fire companies' financial footings, which have grown increasingly shaky with rising insurance costs and expenses tied to the county new radio system.

Walnuttown is in particularly dire straits because it relies solely on the township's 1 mill fire tax, whereas Virginville is supplemented with funding from townships north of Richmond, officials said.

After supervisors Chairman Ronald L. Kurtz raised the idea of a regional fire company including Fleetwood, Walnuttown and Virginville, volunteers launched into a discussion about the historically tenuous relationship with the Fleetwood company's leadership.

The Richmond companies offered various anecdotes that painted the borough's fire officials as disrespectful of their township colleagues.

"The funny thing is that, number one, if our equipment and manpower isn't needed, then why do they call us so often? Interesting," said Walnuttown Chief Lyle Weidner. "I'd be fine if they just didn't call us."

"The air just thickens when they show up," added Virginville Chief Wayne DeLong, noting that the issues are not with the lower-ranking firefighters.

"They're just different people," DeLong said. "They want to get in there and take charge and push us, and they forget whose call it really is."

On some days, Walnuttown President Anthony Giannotti said he doesn't want to respond to calls in the borough because of Fleetwood Chief John Manmiller.

Manmiller could not be reached for comment late Monday.

"The attitude of the leader has poisoned the group," said supervisors Vice Chairwoman Phoebe R. Bitler.

Another volunteer claimed that while responding to one emergency call, he had been subjected to an expletive-laden tirade by a high-ranking Fleetwood fire official because of where he parked a firetruck.

Kurtz said that type of conduct was unacceptable, urging township firefighters to act professionally.

He added that he would relay the concerns to the Fleetwood council, possibly with the Manmiller in attendance.

"That's not tolerable," he said. "It won't be tolerated in my eyes."

Contact C. Ryan Barber: 610-371-5081 or [email protected].