With Funds Low, Claysburg Fire Co. Looks to Community for Help

The Claysburg Volunteer Fire Company is down its main fire fighting truck and is asking the community for help getting a new one.

The fire company's 1994 International pumper truck has been out of service for weeks with transfer case and pump failure issues and given its age, the cost to repair it would be too high with no guarantee other issues wouldn't develop. Fire company President William Lightner said a new truck would be more cost-effective and reliable.

"It's a major breakdown." Lightner said. "We have been dumping money into it for years, but nickels and dimes have now become many dollars."

Dwindling Funds

The pandemic has hit volunteer fire departments hard forcing them to cancel fundraisers, leaving Claysburg with just $150,000 in available cash. A new truck is estimated to cost around $375,000, forcing the company to borrow $200,000 from the state on a 25-year loan.

Lightner said Claysburg's fire company has taken a financial hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mandates on crowd gatherings meant that events that generate a great deal of revenue couldn't be held.

"Our budget has taken a hit." Lightner said. "It has been a significant impact from that standpoint."

Lightner said the summer months are usually filled with big events that attract a lot of people.

"The biggest fundraisers we have are during the summer festivities and they were all pretty much canceled," he said. "We tried to do some chicken barbecues but the cash parties where the community would all come together, we had to cancel all of those."

Lightner said the $150,000 in available cash makes for a dire situation with expenses and equipment to maintain.

"We hope we don't have any problems with our other equipment," he said.

On Borrowed Time

When a building is on fire seconds count, and with Claysburg's main engine down, response time goes up because they would need to rely on neighboring departments to respond.

"It is our main piece of firefighting equipment." Lightner said. "It is the first one on scene, the first one to start fighting a fire. It is an absolutely critical piece of equipment."

Lightner said in the short-term, the community is covered because the Alum Bank Volunteer Fire Company had just bought a new tanker and offered Claysburg the use of its old one.

"Alum Bank had just put a good deal of money into it to get ready to sell." Lightner said. "They came to us and said they will gladly lend it to us until we get a new truck."

While appreciative of the use of Alum Bank's engine, Lightner said a more permanent solution is needed to ensure the safety of the community. Alum Bank's tanker is more than 20 years old and the company had just put a lot of money into it to get it road ready. With a truck that old and that has already undergone significant repairs, chances are more repairs will be needed in the future.

"Alum Bank gave us some breathing room to look for the best deal on a new truck." Lightner said. "They are letting us use their old tanker for as long as we need it."

Reaching Out for Help

Lightner said the decision to buy a new truck rather than purchase a used one for less money or purchase the one they are borrowing from Alum Bank comes down to reliability.

"We looked at a lot of used ones but what we saw was still in the $300,000 price range," he said. "So, the thinking went into it of why pay $300,000 for a used one when we can get a brand new one for $375,000?"

To pay for the new truck, the fire company will need to take out a $200,000 25-year loan from the state.

"We would like to get the loan paid off quicker than 25 years." Lightner said. "The more help we get, the quicker we can pay it off."

The fire company is reaching out to the community and local industry for help in paying off the loan.

"We are putting out an appeal to the community and the industry in our community for help." Lightner said. "If ever there was a time that the town of Claysburg needs help, it is for this."

Donations toward the new engine can be sent to P.O. Box 292, Claysburg Pa, 16625.