Upper Burrell firefighters display fire truck on department's wish list

More than 100 people turned out Monday night to check out a new fire truck the Upper Burrell Volunteer Fire Company wants to buy.

After some township residents expressed opposition this month to a proposed 2-mill real estate tax increase to help pay for the new truck, the fire company wanted the public to see what the money would pay for. The company has said its fire truck is 24 years old and needs to be replaced.

“It’s been a good turnout,” said Kevin Hogan, the company’s first lieutenant and financial secretary.

After prodding from the public, township supervisors said they wanted to audit the fire company’s books before considering a tax increase to cover the new truck’s projected cost of $850,000 to $950,000. The fire tax proposal is shelved.

Resident Dan Myers, a former supervisor, seemed to like the proposed truck, a Pierce 100-foot quint with a 107-foot ladder, but he declined to say whether it should be bought for the department.

“After the audit, we’ll see,” he said. “Maybe the fire tax will be lower.”

The Pierce truck on display Monday is popular with smaller fire companies because it can do multiple tasks such as pumping water with a ladder available, said Jim Sims, account manager for Glick Fire Equipment Co. Inc. in Zelienople.

Ross Walker, chairman of Upper Burrell Supervisors, said the truck showing went well but the ladder seemed to be a point of debate.

“Some say they don’t need one or need one that is 107-foot long,” Walker said.

Hogan said the ladder, which has the capability of extending sideways, is needed to reach some rural homes with setbacks.

If surrounding fire companies such as New Kensington, Arnold and Washington Township have trucks with ladders, Walker asked, “Why have a ladder truck in Upper Burrell?”

Hogan said ladder trucks from neighboring communities are still at least 6½ miles away from either direction.

“If it’s your house, do you want to wait for the truck to come from somewhere else?” Hogan said.

Fire company officials and supervisors said they would continue to explore the proposed fire tax, audit and truck purchase. No immediate deadlines or related events are scheduled.