Fox Chapel's Dorseyville fire station to be expanded to fit larger fire trucks, address other issues

Fox Chapel Fire Department’s Dorseyville fire station may be expanded next year to improve fleet usage.

The borough is reviewing plans to increase the facility along Dorseyville Road across from Beechwood Farms from 1,400 square feet to 1,900 square feet and adjust the pitch of the roof to allow for 13-foot garage doors.

The moves are to accommodate taller fire trucks. Plans also include an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant access point on the side of the station.

Borough Manager Julie Bastianini said there are conceptual architectural plans for the expansion. More work is needed before the project can go out for contract bids.

Council showed its support for the fire department by unanimously voting Aug. 18 to pursue a $500,000 grant from the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County.

Council President Andrew Bennett deferred comments about the fire station project to the borough manager.

“The project is necessary to enlarge the facility to meet the demands of modern firefighting, and so that all trucks can fit inside the station,” Bastianini said via email.

Deadline to submit the grant application was Aug. 22. The anticipated date for grant awards is sometime in the first quarter of next year.

It’s unclear when construction may begin next year.

Total project cost is estimated at $675,000.

Bastianini said the borough is prepared to fund the additional $175,000 should the grant be awarded.

The fire department has 32 active members, four active life members, one junior member, six active public works members and two inactive administrative support members.

Firefighters may respond to calls from either of Fox Chapel’s stations, the one along Dorseyville Road or the one by the borough building along Fox Chapel Road.

The Dorseyville station has a 2015 Seagrave Marauder II custom-built pumper and squad truck with a 2012 Ford F-350 chassis with an Omaha utility body.

Two of the department’s other four vehicles don’t currently fit in the Dorseyville station.

Mike Pohl, volunteer fire department lieutenant and secretary, said it’s not much of an issue because the trucks aren’t moved between stations.

“The members of the Fox Chapel VFD are excited the borough of Fox Chapel is investing to expand and improve its building on Dorseyville Road, known as Fox Chapel VFD Station 2,” Pohl said via email. “The project will improve amenities, ensure future apparatus housed at this station are not as limited in terms of height and length, and address building issues that naturally arise with a structure that is 65 years old.”

More information about the stations and vehicles is available on the fire department’s website, foxchapelvfd.com.