CLEARFIELD – When a fire happens in Clearfield Borough, firefighters dash to Station No. 1. In the past, the same run would have had volunteers responding to four separate stations, and as Clearfield Volunteer Fire Department Chief John Williams said, often responding with many trucks but few hands to do the work.
“My own, personal opinion, having everyone going to a central station is working,” he said.
Williams told a gathering of concerned residents Wednesday night that the changes seen in 2006 with moving engines to the downtown fire house came as the result of suggestions made in a 2002 study.
He admitted, though, that the first year of this so-called functional consolidation is as much a “fact-finding operation” as it is one that has caused talk throughout the community.
In Williams’ presentation, he also outlined a plan for the future, including making a larger central station as Station No. 1 has many pieces of equipment in close proximity in the garage.
One thing the department is considering is purchasing the former Clearfield Moose property, which sits between Front and Second streets downtown. Williams said the bays would open on each side of the building, allowing trucks to leave using either street.
But, one borough resident pointed out that at about 3 p.m. on weekdays, navigating an engine down Second Street might not be an option as there is often a traffic backlog with nowhere for cars to go to get out of the way. Another resident noted that the proposed location is across the West Branch of the Susquehanna River from Clearfield Hospital. Others said they did not want a new station if it meant higher taxes.
Williams responded by describing the role of the Susquehanna Bureau of Fire, a consortium of companies including those in Lawrence Township and Clearfield and Curwensville boroughs. Because of this, Lawrence Township’s Station No. 1 would respond to the hospital if the situation warranted.
Through the bureau, Williams said the goal is to provide “the best possible around-the-clock fire coverage.”
Williams said there is the possibility that if a new station is built, grant funds could be secured. He added that this was more likely because the department was following through with the suggestion to partner with regional fire companies while consolidating those in the borough.
While Wednesday’s forum was meant to give the public a chance to hear from the volunteers, Williams said all options will be examined before the company decides to make more big changes, such as building a central station.
“We owe it to ourselves, and we owe it to the taxpayers to stop and look.”
