The Irwin Volunteer Fire Department is a step closer to getting a larger firehall at the site of the former Sixth Street School, with hopes of moving into the building next year.

Irwin Council on Wednesday approved the transfer of the property to the fire department at no cost. The borough acquired the 2.3-acre site from the Norwin School District for $1 in November 1995. The school was demolished in 1998.

The transfer of the property will be done as soon as possible, said Zachary Kansler, borough solicitor.

Once the fire department gets ownership, Chief Justin Mochar said the department wants to have the land surveyed and a preliminary design done for a new firehall and ambulance base. Engineering work would be needed as well.

They hope to break ground in the early spring, then complete construction within six to eight months, Mochar said.

Preliminary cost estimates for a building with six bays for fire vehicles would be between $800,000 and $1 million, Mochar said.

“We don’t have a final estimate,” the chief said.

Last year, he told council the building might be about 7,200 square feet and 1½-stories tall.

While the proposed site would be in a neighborhood, Mochar said they have determined they can drive the fire trucks up or down Sixth Street, or down Chestnut Street, when an emergency occurs.

To pay for the project, Mochar said the department will seek grants, other funding sources and funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Irwin council also instituted a 1-mill fire department tax in this year’s budget to generate about $30,000 a year for capital projects.

Borough officials had discussed the possibility of building a municipal complex to house the administration and the police department next to the new firehall, but no decision has been made.

The current office, at 424 Main St., is above an appliance store and is not handicapped accessible.

Irwin Council in March scrapped a plan to apply for a $1.2 million state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant for a new fire hall and municipal complex because of time constraints in completing the application by the March deadline and other reasons.

Mochar said the fire department intends to sell its firehall and ambulance base on Western Avenue when it moves.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)