Published: November 04, 2009 11:22 pm      

Upper Yoder fire coverage discussed

Department assures township is protected

JOHNSTOWN — With one of their two volunteer fire companies slowly falling apart, Upper Yoder Township officials are trying to pick up the pieces.

But, for all the uncertainty regarding the future of Menoher Heights Volunteer Fire Company, officials on Wednesday made a promise to residents throughout the 11.7-square-mile municipality.

Fire protection, they pledged, will not be compromised.

“It is still one township,” township Solicitor Robert Shahade said. “There is adequate service, and there will continue to be adequate service.”

Officials announced last week that the larger of the two fire organizations – Upper Yoder Volunteer Fire Company – was taking over all emergency-response calls in the township.

Menoher Heights already had given up its ambulance service in July, with Upper Yoder taking those calls. But the latest development appears to have rendered Menoher Heights completely inactive, though it still exists as a legal entity.

Asked on Wednesday whether there is any future for Menoher Heights, President Tabby Livingston said: “I’d like to say yes, but I’m not hopeful.”

At a special township supervisors meeting Wednesday, more details emerged showing the full extent to which Menoher Heights has been hobbled by debt.

The Upper Yoder company has purchased Menoher Heights’ sole fire engine, saving it from repossession.

That leaves only a utility pickup truck and other assorted equipment at the station, 3255 Menoher Blvd.

The big question at Wednesday’s meeting centered on the future of that station. It opened in 1982.

Shahade said the Menoher Heights company still owes approximately $115,000 on the building. And that does not include penalties and interest – a big factor since the fire company is about 18 months behind on its payments, the solicitor said.

Township supervisors said they do not want to see the Menoher Heights station sustain damage during the winter months. Phone service has been disconnected there, and electrical service may soon be shut off as well.

Supervisors offered to secure and “winterize” the building, but only if the remaining members of the Menoher Heights company agree to vacate the station and allow the locks to be changed.

That decision may be made at a fire company meeting scheduled for next week.

“If it just sits there, it’s just going to deteriorate,” township Supervisor Roy Shaffer said. “And it wouldn’t be a big investment to winterize it.”

However, neither township officials nor Upper Yoder Volunteer Fire Company members have any interest in purchasing the Menoher Heights station at this point.

The Upper Yoder company, having already taken on more than $60,000 in debt to buy Menoher Heights’ truck, does not have adequate resources to buy another fire house, Chief Tim Reitz said.

More importantly, officials say there is no need to establish a satellite fire station at the Menoher Heights building.

The Upper Yoder company “is within a safe response time throughout the entire township to the county line,” Shahade said.

Brian Feist, Cambria County’s emergency services director, agreed with that assessment and commended the Upper Yoder volunteers for taking on extra responsibility.

“The township residents are in good hands,” Feist said. “As far as we’re concerned, the township is covered.”