Pinecroft Volunteer Fire Company, Newburg Volunteer Fire Department merger clarified
Pinecroft firefighters will transfer, become members of Newburg fire department
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The merger of the Pinecroft Volunteer Fire Company with the Newburg Volunteer Fire Department of Logan Township will result in Pinecroft's property no longer functioning as a fire station; in the Pinecroft firefighters who've transferred to Newburg becoming regular firefighters in that company; and in the merged department retaining the Newburg name -- all contrary to information in a story on page A1 in Monday's Mirror, according to Newburg Deputy Chief Matt Clinger.
Pinecroft and Newburg agreed to merge following Pinecroft's decertification by the Antis Township supervisors several months ago, which had resulted from Pinecroft being unwilling to be absorbed by Excelsior Fire Department No. 1 of Bellwood.
The Pinecroft station won't be used as a station from which firefighters will be responding to calls because its location in Antis Township, outside Logan Township, could have caused insurance coverage issues, according to Clinger.
The Pinecroft property will, however, be used for storage of vehicles and equipment, for training of the merged company's firefighters, for fundraising activities and as a rental venue for wedding receptions and other events, according to Clinger.
The Pinecroft firefighters won't be responding as a satellite or auxiliary force at the request of Newburg, when that company needs help after being called out by the county 911 Center, as stated in Monday's story, but rather as ordinary Newburg members, according to Clinger.
The merged company will not be called Newburg-Pinecroft, Clinger said.
Newburg may see fit to exchange vehicles between the former Pinecroft station and the Newburg station, with the Pinecroft station becoming the venue for vehicles held in reserve, according to Clinger.
"We're not responding to anything out of there," Clinger said.
The Pinecroft building will retain the Pinecroft name, but the vehicles that have been in the Pinecroft fleet will be relettered to reflect their being part of the Newburg department, according to Clinger.
Twelve-plus Pinecroft members have transferred, 10 who plan to be firefighters, with the rest being social members of Newburg, Clinger said.
People with questions about the merger can seek answers through the company's Facebook page, Clinger said.
Newburg has no quarrel with Excelsior, Clinger said.
"We don't want bad blood," he said. "We want to work together (with Excelsior)."
Newburg also wants to work with the Antis Township supervisors, he said.
"We just want to do what's best for the community," he said. Having access to additional equipment and additional firefighters should help Newburg do that, he said.
Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.