Morganville Independent Fire Company Looks to Renovate Route 79 Location

After almost two years of combining firefighters of Morganville Independent and Morganville Volunteer under one roof, District 3 is looking toward a future of a renovated Route 79 location.

A special meeting of the district commissioners on Monday night revealed plans of the Independent house to move ahead with funding and planning a renovation of its firehouse. According to Commissioner Robert Holmes the project will not be funded by the board.

Tension has been high between the two firehouses since the commissioners decided more than one year ago to move all district equipment to Tennent Road at Morganville Volunteer, and have both sets of firefighters working together.

"It seems like the goal is to get these trucks back together, and with the Independent doing these renovations to accomodate all of our equipment, it sounds like services on Tennent Road are going to be no longer needed," said Commissioner Joe Chaplinski. "Can they work together, and possibly do something better on this location?"

According to August meeting minutes, the two groups never got along and it was revealed that members of Volunteer and Independent were fighting and moral was down by merging the two departments.

Holmes said Morganville Volunteer needs to up their manpower and create a long-term plan for the house.

"We are paying for fire protection, and we are getting nothing," Holmes said. "Last month, 23 calls, 1 was answered [by Morganville Volunteer]....you have to come up with a plan, with how you are going to start getting trucks out of that firehouse."

Renovations to Independent on Route 79 will include a new truck bay, which will fit all district equipment, a characteristic the current firehouse does not have.

The house has approached an architect for conceptual design, and established a budget with the bank for a loan.