Daunting equipment costs eased for Allegheny Township, Murrysville VFDs after $250K infusion from energy company

The Markle Volunteer Fire Department needs to make major repairs to its two trucks, but, like most of its peers in Western Pennsylvania, money is scarce.

Spare cash will still be hard to come by for the foreseeable future, but a $100,000 grant from Olympus Energy is expected to at least cover new framework for the Allegheny Township department’s tanker truck.

At the moment, the 2002 model — purchased secondhand in 2016 — is out of service, awaiting repairs that will cost upward of $75,000. Lower Burrell No. 1 is lending Markle a tanker for free in the meantime.

“The plan was probably to do loans or figure something out,” Chief Matt Rearick said. “It’s a little tight right now.”

Any leftover money will go toward fixing a cradle that holds a water tank on the department’s engine, which was manufactured in 1994.

Markle member Liane Newell recently reached out to Olympus to inquire about possible funding for the fixes.

The Canonsburg-based natural gas extraction firm has one well pad in Allegheny Township, along Willowbrook Road and four in neighboring Upper Burrell.

And, while the department has never been called to an incident at any of these well pads, natural gas is highly flammable and combustible, raising the importance of reliable fire service.

This week, Newell heard back from Olympus Energy Communication and Engagement Lead Ashley Mikelonis.

“She called me Monday with the news, and I cried on the phone,” said Newell, whose grandfather was one of Markle’s founding members in 1960.

Mikelonis said the department “has been a good partner to us over the years,” making it one of a handful in Western Pennsylvania selected for Olympus’ annual award program.

Sardis Volunteer Fire Company in Murrysville received $100,000 to replace technical rescue gear, Murrysville Medic One received $50,000 toward a capital fundraising campaign and SouthEast Regional EMS in Elizabeth received $20,000 toward a Polaris side-by-side for patient transport.

“I don’t know how I would have funded any of this equipment,” said Sardis Chief Joe Paiano Jr.

As one of the few fire services in the area with technical rescue expertise, Sardis was integral in the emergency response to the December sinkhole incident in Unity that claimed a woman’s life. Much of the gear it used during those operations was almost 20 years old.

It also has been called twice to Olympus’ Hermes well pad in Murrysville for minor work-related injuries.

As for Markle, its leadership conceded there’s no viable long-term plan for financial stability, and the 16-member department will likely struggle to meet any large future expenses.

A $50,000 township contribution, by way of a fire tax split between Markle and Allegheny Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, hardly covers all their needs.

For now, though, Second Assistant Matt Johnston said he will at least “sleep a little better at night.”