East End fire company may lose station, equipment
By Eric Scicchitano, The News-Item, Shamokin, Pa. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Company trustees haven't been able to pay the mortgage on the ill-fated social hall for the past 15 months, and have fallen behind by
The
Multiple attempts to seek comment from company trustees were unsuccessful. A
"I can only confirm that
Trustees used the company's truck room and some equipment as collateral for the loan taken in 2010 to build the 5,000-square-foot social hall, bar and banquet facility at Chestnut and Eighth streets. Firefighters were promised that wouldn't happen, Siko said, and were shocked to learn this summer the company's future is in jeopardy.
The social hall opened in 2012 and may close permanently.
A lot to lose
The
But the truck room itself along with the emergency squad apparatus used on medical calls and a utility vehicle could all be lost. The loan agreement allows for immediate possession of the collateral. That would leave the engine and the 25 active firefighters that operate it without a station.
"We primarily need the equipment protected, and the secondary need is a roof over our head," Siko said.
A list of public safety equipment was sent to the
Options are sought for company firefighters to keep the firehouse, and it hasn't been lost on them that borough council is looking for a new building. There is a common denominator: the
Help has also been sought from state and federal lawmakers.
"The firefighters have been working tirelessly figuring out what we're going to do," Siko said <chron>Oct. 10. "It's hard. There's a lot of us old-timers who grew up in the firehouse and this could be the end."
The
The social hall was built for
Fund drive for public safety only
"We're worried from a fire department standpoint that we'll take a hit with the community thinking the money will go to the bar, which is simply not the case," Siko said.
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