Arnold Council to consider decertifying 1 of 2 fire departments

Arnold Council may vote Tuesday to decertify one of the city’s two volunteer fire departments.

A vote to decertify the No. 1 fire department will be on the council’s agenda, said Councilman George Hawdon, who is in charge of public safety.

Hawdon declined to discuss details of the matter ahead of the meeting, at which he said a full report will be made to council. Mayor Joe Bia II was unavailable for comment during the day.

Walter Gouza III, the acting fire chief of the No. 1 fire department, also declined to comment Monday.

Gouza replaced his brother, Brian Gouza, as head of the department. Brian Gouza was dismissed from the department in late December after he was accused of misusing department funds.

Brian Gouza avoided a civil court hearing in April when he agreed to repay $1,525 in advance death benefits he received but to which the fire department argued he was not entitled.

The Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office is continuing to investigate the department, spokeswoman Melanie Jones said.

Should council decertify the department, there would not be any lapse in fire protection, said Eric Gartley, chief of Arnold No. 2.

While the No. 1 fire department has seven active firefighters, Gartley said No. 2 has about 35.

“We do have a plan for coverage if this were to go through,” Gartley said. “At no point in time would the citizens be jeopardized as far as safety.”

While the No. 1 fire department has Arnold’s only aerial truck, it belongs to the city. Gartley said his department has members capable of operating it, but during a transition period would ask for help from surrounding departments.

“The city could assign it to us,” he said. “It’s their asset. They would have to decide how they want to handle it.”

A fire engine at No. 1 is said to be inoperable. No. 2 has a nearly 30-year-old engine it is working on financing to replace, but Gartley said it is still running well.

Both fire halls are along Drey Street, with No. 1 on the river side of the tracks and No. 2 up the hill on the opposite side. With significantly reduced train traffic and less chance of crossings being blocked, Gartley said there no longer is much need for two fire stations to cover both sides of the city.

Gartley said his fire department is structurally and financially sound. He said they are focusing on hosting the Western Pennsylvania Firemen’s Association convention Aug. 3-7 and celebrating its centennial next year.

As for whether the No. 2 department could move into the larger No. 1 hall, Gartley said the conversations have not gotten that far yet.

“That is something that could happen,” he said.