Delco Fire Co Shut Down Due To 'Inability To Adequately Respond'

DARBY TOWNSHIP, PA — A Delaware County municipality is down one fire company after officials placed it in an "out of service" designation last week.

Darby Township officials on May 22 placed the Goodwill Fire Company in the status due to its "inability... to adequately respond to service calls with fully trained and certified operators and engineers with the fire apparatuses in use at the station."

Authorities said the "out of service" distinction is anticipated to be temporary, while the fire company has adequately trained and certified personnel available to respond to calls.

The township not only shut down the fire company, it took back its firefighting vehicles.

Officials said the reclaiming of the vehicles, which the township owns, was due to the experience of Briarcliffe Fire Company's closing. According to the township, when that fire company closed, the fire apparatuses were stripped and damaged before the township could reclaim them.

Officials reassured residents that emergency response needs would still be met during the temporary closure, as the township has mutual aid agreements with other municipalities' fire departments and companies. Additionally, Darby Township Fire Company No. 4 is still operating in the township.

Anyone who has questions about the closure can contact Michael P. Pierce at 610-566-9111 or mppierce@piercehughes.com.