Why a Millcreek Fire Station Could Move
The Belle Valley Volunteer Fire Department has been at the corner of Norcross and Wattsburg Road in Millcreek for decades. Soon, it could move.
It’s in a spot the federal government has classified as a flood zone.
Millcreek Twp. Fire Chief Michael Cliff said moving the station was a point of discussion when he was hired in 2023.
“Through this process, Millcreek Township is doing our due diligence to make sure that this new location of [the] Belle Valley fire station is situated to be able to respond to emergencies throughout that entire district,” he said.
They’re looking at grants to pay for the project, which he hopes to keep under $5 million. A decision on where to move hasn’t been made, he said. It will be years before a new station is built.
The Millcreek Township Fire Department was formed in 2023 to add full-time staff to the volunteer departments in the township. Full-time staff have not been added to the Belle Valley station. Their chief said there is a disagreement over terminology in the agreement.
“It is not holding us back [from] accepting the paid personnel here,” said Chief Jeremey Moreland.
“We have room for them. We have equipment for them if he gets the staff for that. We just hope that that agreement being signed doesn’t hold that off.”