Hempfield supervisor Doug Weimer introduces the township's second annual fire forum on Saturday, March 8, 2025.

Creating an "inviting environment" was the theme at Hempfield Township's second annual fire forum Saturday morning.

The first forum took place last year to smooth over concerns, answer uncertainties about the state of the fire department and clarify the "nonchartered" process, where a fire station goes under the direct management of the township in return for the township paying all of its expenses.

Since then, the forum's purpose has shifted to become an annual "state of affairs" summary for the public and fire department members, Hempfield Township Supervisor Doug Weimer said.

Noncharter updates

Steve Kohl, captain at Midway-St. Clair Fire Department, said his department is in the final stages of the 15-step process of becoming nonchartered. In February, the township supervisors approved acquiring Midway-St. Clair.

"We turned over our acquisition agreement last month," Kohl said.

The noncharter process starts with a station crafting a letter of intent. The specifics are clarified between the township and the joining fire station through meetings. The two then proceed to hold station votes on final approval and complete legal paperwork to transfer fire station assets to the township.

"We're in the process right now -- having a meeting this week to do the letter of intent," said David Ciarkowski, captain at Grapeville Fire Department.

Ciarkowski said his department began considering noncharter after last year's forum.

"It was better explained," he said. "Everybody understood it more. ... It just seems to make the most sense."

Ciarkowski said if Grapeville wasn't agreeing to fall under the township's umbrella, his crew would have to do some pretty hefty fundraising to keep the doors open and the equipment maintained. By merging, the township takes over all of the financials, he said.

North Hempfield was the first to finish the noncharter process in 2021. The station was renovated and reopened last fall under the name Station 501 Hempfield North.

Out of the township's 10 departments, Weimer said officials are also in discussions with Adamsburg, Carbon and approved a declaration of intent with Fort Allen last month.

The 11th department, High Park Volunteer Fire Department, closed last year after failing to respond to calls. It is proposing a merger with West Point.

Building updates

Township Manager Aaron Siko said the township is to acquire land and funding when it comes to the two major construction projects planned for the Hempfield fire companies.

After Adamsburg leadership expressed its interest over a year ago, the township began looking for land in the western part of the township to replace the Adamsburg station. The township has allocated $5 million from a 2022 bond to fund construction of a new station.

The search landed on the West Hempfield elementary or middle schools. A former ball field in front of the elementary school along Wendel Road is central to residents, businesses and highway corridors.

"The Hempfield Area School Board has to be in agreement that this is the best opportunity and partnership available," Siko said.

He said the site plan outlined during the meeting has been sent to the school board for consideration.

The drafted plan includes four drive-through bays, bunk rooms, rooms for fitness equipment and meetings.

"The goal of this is to build a lasting facility," Siko said.

Siko said if the township can move forward with discussions with the school district in a "timely manner," final design should be completed by the end this year and construction would begin next year.

A second facility in the township's capital investment plan, is the Weatherwood Community Park and Hempfield Municipal Complex project.

Siko said the township plans to include a public safety facility on the 43-acre property site off Weatherwood Lane near Route 30 and Mt. Pleasant Road.

The facility will "create a campus environment for municipal services within Hempfield Township," Siko said. The facility will serve as the fire department headquarters and will be equipped with a fire training tower, a hose drying tower, five pull-through bays, bunk spaces, office and day room spaces.

A museum is included in the building plans to honor fallen servicemen and to maintain the history of the individual departments joining the township. Siko said the township hopes to make lifetime fire company members the curators of the museum.

"We want to maintain our identities. We want the fire stations to maintain their identities," said Hempfield Fire Chief Anthony Kovacic.

Siko said the facility is estimated to cost $13 million for construction with about $5 million for design, site improvements, permits and other costs.

"It's a significant investment in the long-term approach of the township, but what's important to remember is that we serve over 41,000 residents across 76 square miles," Siko said.

Siko said the supervisors are working with Kovacic to find additional funding.

Station data

Kovacic said the department responded to almost 2,700 calls last year.

Out of the 2,643 incident calls the department received, 172 were for actual fires, including structure fires, car fires and brush fires. That's 6.5% of calls, Kovacic said.

Other calls were for false alarms or "good-intention" calls that don't turn out to be fires, hazardous conditions like downed wires and ambulance assists.

Kovacic said based on statistics, the departments struggle the most with answering day calls. Most volunteer firefighters have day jobs, Kovacic said.

The township allocated nearly $100,000 to part-time salaries in its public safety budget.

The department hired four part-time paid fire truck drivers who responded to 330 incidents, performed 80 hours of hose testing and filled 2,216 staffed hours in six months.

"I think we've invested a lot of money to try to make this a first class volunteer service and one that will continue in the future," Weimer said.