'Let the Building Burn,' Franklin County, PA, Fire Chief Told Amid Hydrant Flap
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A Franklin County fire department warned residents Tuesday they may be left without reliable fire protection after the borough’s water authority told fire crews they can no longer use hydrants.
The MMP&W Volunteer Fire Company posted the announcement Tuesday on Facebook after crews responded to a barn fire that destroyed a structure and killed several animals.
The company said firefighters faced severe water supply restrictions due to frozen draft sites and were forced to rely on hydrants.
That led to a call from the Mercersburg Water Authority chairman, who reportedly told the fire chief that crews can no longer use its municipal hydrants “under any circumstances,” emphasizing that the water system cannot support firefighting operations, the statement said.
Fire officials noted that multiple people heard the comments.
When the fire company asked what they were supposed to do instead of using the hydrants, the chairman reportedly said they should “let the building burn” and that “it is only one building,” apparently referencing to the barn fire.
The Facebook post detailing the comments outraged residents and fire department advocates who reached out to Sen. Doug Mastriano and New Antrim Township Administrator Chris Ardinger. The pair intervened with Mercersburg, leading to meetings Tuesday night and Wednesday morning with officials from the council and authority.
The water authority did not return PennLive’s inquiries Wednesday, but the fire department posted an update on Facebook saying the authority backtracked on the demands. The post said firefighters could use the hydrants and promised to try to place as little strain on the system as possible during emergency operations.
The original announcement caused many concerns from residents on Facebook about fire safety and water supply, with one person asking why the fire company didn’t use a “brand new 3,500 gallon tanker” during the barn fire.
A fire official responded to the comment, saying the tanker wasn’t at the scene because the volunteer department didn’t have enough people to staff it, which is an issue with fire departments across Pennsylvania and the nation.
MMP&W argued that denying emergency water access and failing to plan for fire protection puts the public at risk.
“MMP&W fully understands that the water system has challenges and limitations,” the fire company said in a statement. “We have consistently attempted to operate within the constraints placed upon us, adapting tactics and planning wherever possible. However, blatant neglect of fire protection planning and the outright denial of emergency water access is not acceptable.”
The fire company serves Mercersburg, Montgomery, Peters and Warren townships, according to its Facebook page.
The fire company also cited longstanding concerns, such as the removal of a fire hydrant and a general lack of communication and coordination.
Fire officials said they plan to attend the next town council and authority meetings to request appropriate action be taken over the initial demand to stop using hydrants.
In the meantime, they assured residents: “If a fire happens in our area, make no mistakes, we will be there to help you, and all available resources will be used.”
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