Millcreek Township officials said public safety is being compromised after the Belle Valley Volunteer Fire Department responded to only 50% of its 911 calls over the past 18 months.<\/p>\n
The township\u2019s paid fire department warned that Belle Valley could lose its volunteer certification if the department fails to sign an operational agreement with the township.<\/p>\n
The ongoing controversy between the township and Belle Valley has persisted for more than two years. Belle Valley remains the only volunteer fire company in Millcreek Township that has not signed an agreement permitting paid staff to utilize its station, fire trucks and equipment.<\/p>\n
Millcreek Fire Department Chief Michael Cliff delivered a letter notifying the volunteer fire department of a material breach of its agreement with the township. The notice cited reduced response rates, refusal to share equipment and improper record keeping.<\/p>\n
\t Cliff said he has attempted to work with the volunteer station without success. \u201cI\u2019ve made several requests to utilize some of their assets,\u201d Cliff said. \u201cThey won\u2019t even say yes or no; they just ghost us and unfortunately we just can\u2019t continue this way.\u201d<\/p>\n Millcreek Township Supervisor Kim Clear addressed the issue of unused equipment during the dispute. \u201cThose fire trucks and facilities that were purchased with taxpayer money and with resident donations are sitting in the fire station when they could be used to answer calls,\u201d Clear said.<\/p>\n The Belle Valley Fire Department released a statement calling the letter a threat to its volunteers and accusing Cliff of public attacks and pressure. \u201cWe, again, call on the Millcreek Board of Supervisors to come to the table and have a serious discussion about returning the paid fire department to its original purpose: supplementing the Township\u2019s volunteer fire departments, not replacing them or forcing them to surrender their assets,\u201d the department stated.<\/p>\n To read Belle Valley\u2019s full statement, click here<\/a>. <\/p>\n The township\u2019s paid fire department is currently operating out of a temporary setup at the East Side Township garage on Old French Road, utilizing a construction trailer and a fire engine from West Lake. Without that temporary setup, the closest station is in Kearsarge, which is an additional 10 minutes away.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tBelle Valley launches campaign to save volunteer station\t<\/a><\/p>\n