Leechburg carnival, key fundraiser for firefighters, canceled because of covid-19

A popular event that raises money for Leechburg’s firefighters won’t be held this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, but a Virginia man whose dad was a longtime member of the department is working to offset the loss.

The Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company’s annual carnival was set to take place in August. It’s one of the fire company’s main fundraisers, raising about $15,000 for fire equipment and providing entertainment for residents.

“Everybody can’t afford to go to the big parks. They can come to the Leechburg carnival, and the kids can ride all the rides all evening for $15. It’s a pretty good deal,” Fire Chief Tom Foster said last week.

Archie Lidey III is a manager at Scottdale-based Tropical Amusements, which provides the midway and rides for the carnival. Lidey said the reason for the cancellation is because his company hasn’t been able to obtain insurance, nor has it received guidance from the state on when it will be allowed to reopen.

“There’s no positives obviously to this at all, other than keeping people safe, that’s No. 1,” Lidey said. “It very well may be a canceled season for us.”

Bill Vigna of Fairfax, Va., a Leechburg native, started a GoFundMe to try to help the fire company. As of Tuesday afternoon, it had raised more than $2,500 of its $10,000 goal. All of the money will go directly to a PayPal account previously set up by the fire company, Vigna said.

Vigna is not affiliated with the fire company, but his dad was a lifetime member so he said he knows how important the carnival is for the fire company in terms of fundraising. His dad, Eugene W. Vigna, died in January.

“Fundraising is a big part of their budget. And those people deserve all the love and respect that can be given,” said Vigna, 50. “I remember my father going to calls in the middle of the night … summer … winter … and getting home, resting for a few minutes or hours and then going to work. And that’s something that all those people are still doing … and will do as long as the (fire company) exists.”

The coronavirus has affected other fundraisers held to benefit the fire company.

A Gun Bash set for April 4 had to be canceled, as well as the company’s Monday Night Bingo and in-person fish fries.

The fire company was able to hold a prize drawing for the Gun Bash on Facebook Live, but it still took “quite a big hit” on revenue, Foster said. Foster estimates the fire company lost $5,000 normally brought in by the fish fries and close to $10,000 generated by bingo.

“We fundraise year-round, and we work hard at it to provide fire protection for the borough of Leechburg,” Foster said.

The fire company has started biweekly fish fries to try to recoup some of the lost revenue. The next one will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday.