Grapeville latest station to come under wing of Hempfield fire department

Grapeville Volunteer Fire Company is ready to take the plunge.

Hempfield supervisors are set to vote Monday on a declaration of intent with the fire station. If approved, it will start a process for the station to become “nonchartered” that will end with Grapeville’s finances being managed and paid by the township, while volunteer firefighters can continue to respond to calls.

The station has been discussing the possibility with the township for about a year, said Capt. David Ciarkowski. To him, the move makes a lot of sense.

“Any fundraising is a major challenge, along with training, and our call volume is up there,” he said.

Township officials have been working for years to bring all of Hempfield’s fire stations under one umbrella. North Hempfield was the first to finish the process, in 2021. Township supervisors approved an acquisition agreement with Midway-St. Clair last month.

Fire Chief Anthony Kovacic said he’s met with three companies interested in the process in the past two weeks.

“There are others in various stages of this,” he said.

There are 10 stations in operation in Hempfield. The 11th, High Park Volunteer Fire Department, closed last year after failing to respond to calls and is proposing a merger with West Point Volunteer Fire Department.

All but two of the 10 stations — West Point and Bovard — have expressed some level of interest in becoming nonchartered, officials said.

The Grapeville post office leases space in the fire station building. Both Kovacic and township manager Aaron Siko said officials are planning to continue that arrangement.

“Overall, we’re excited to have Grapeville continue down this path of being a part of the Hempfield Township Fire Department,” Siko said.

It will take off pressure for firefighters to fundraise and manage finances, Ciarkowski said. There are about 20 members of the station, which has space for event rentals. A club it operated closed in 2020, and the station opted not to have a fish fry this year. Ciarkowski said manpower played a role in the fish fry cancellation, as did the decision to become nonchartered.

A forum was held this month to provide information about the nonchartered process to firefighters. Supervisor Jay Anderson said he talked to some of the attendees.

“They all seem excited about moving forward, and we have a couple other fire departments that are close to going all-in,” he said. “I think we’re moving in the right direction.”