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| Inside this edition: Ferguson Township fire station talks, Shiloh Road development boom, and fests and fairs galore! |
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West Ferguson Township could use a fire station.
The rural section of the central Pennsylvania township is currently served by Alpha Fire Company, which covers the Centre Region, and whose closest station is in downtown State College.
That affects response times, which can take more than 10 minutes, according to a 2017 fire station feasibility study, which recommended building a facility on the west end to reduce those times and give Alpha more space for storage and training.
But seven years later, the proposal hasn’t really advanced.
Local elected officials — new to the township’s five-member Board of Supervisors since discussions surrounding the station first began — have renewed conversations about the potential facility, pending an updated review of what level of fire coverage the area needs.
The Centre Region Council of Governments, a multi-municipal body that offers a voluntary regional fire protection program, funds Alpha. The company aims to have 10 volunteers respond to a scene within 10 minutes for 80% of emergencies, a standard set by the National Fire Protection Association for suburban areas.
The 2017 study showed that Alpha met those requirements most of the time.
However, Alpha hasn’t tracked whether it meets goals for rural communities like west Ferguson Township. The NFPA standard for rural communities — places with fewer than 500 people per square mile — requires that six firefighters respond within 15 minutes for 80% of calls.
Still, there are certain parts of the township that no one can get to in 10 minutes, primarily parts west of South Nixon Road, which consists of farmland and some neighborhoods.
Regional Fire Protection Director Shawn Kauffman wants to update the numbers to guide municipal planning for a new fire station, including looking at response times using the rural standard. During a special meeting with the township supervisors last month, Kauffman said he also wanted to develop a three-year regional fire service plan and map out spending.
Ferguson Township’s draft capital improvement plan, an annually updated spending guide, estimates the fire station would cost $4.8 million. The municipality would be responsible for buying the land and funding construction. In return, Alpha would cover staffing and operating costs.
New data might change the proposed location for the facility, Kauffman said.
The study also will have to consider the role of the privately owned Rock Spring Water Company, which has a history of leaks and state violations and maintains hydrants in its service area. First responders currently operate as if the infrastructure doesn’t exist because water pressure from the hydrants isn’t sufficient to combat flames in most cases.
The issue, while not uncommon for rural areas, means firefighters must bring water on a tanker when answering calls instead of pumping from hydrants, Kauffman told Spotlight PA.
Supervisor Patty Stephens noted “the water issue” while discussing the fire station last month, but township officials have largely refrained from publicly discussing the ongoing issues with Rock Spring.
State Sen. Wayne Langerholc (R., Clearfield) previously told Spotlight PA that he had concerns about the water company, particularly its insufficient flow to the hydrants, and recommended the township apply for a federal grant.
— Marley Parish, rural affairs reporter |
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» ROCKY WATERS: Join us Thursday, July 18 from 6-7 p.m. ET on Zoom for a live panel on Pennsylvania’s private water industry, how it is regulated, and how communities are affected when service is subpar. Register for the event here and submit your questions to events@spotlightpa.org. |
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The west branch of the Susquehanna River between McElhattan and Lock Haven in Clinton County, via Wayne M.
Have a north-central Pennsylvania photo to share? Send it to us by email, use #PAGems on Instagram, or tag us @spotlightpennsylvania. |
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Want us to list your event? Send it to us.
» July 11-13: Philipsburg Heritage Days, in Centre County, features live music, a parade, fireworks, and more.
» July 11-14: More than 300 artists from across the country exhibit during the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts’ sidewalk sale in downtown State College and on Penn State’s campus. Live music, food vendors, BookFest, and more also highlight the Centre County festival.
» July 11-14: The People’s Choice Festival of Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts, in Centre County, celebrates its 30th anniversary.
» July 12-20: The 163rd Clearfield County Fair is jam-packed with events and activities, including a carnival, tractor pulls, drag racing, live music, exhibits, and more.
» July 14-20: New this year, the Jefferson County Fair features a talent show, in addition to longtime traditions and events. |
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An anagram is a word, phrase, or name formed by rearranging the letters of another. For example, “spotlight” also forms “stoplight.”
Decode the anagram and send your answer to talkofthetown@spotlightpa.org. We’ll shout out winners here, and one each week will get some Spotlight PA State College swag.
P A R K S
Good luck!
Last week’s answer: Singing
Congrats to Nancy L., who will receive Spotlight PA State College swag. Others who answered correctly: Kevin M., Bill L., Martina M., Linda A., Carol S., Frederick H., and Leann T.
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