Extensive upgrades finally coming to Limerick Fire Co.

Building renovations, new equipment plans were first discussed in 2013

LIMERICK>> An extensive building renovation program, budgeted at $2.5 million, is expected to be undertaken by Limerick Fire Co. sometime before the end of 2015.

The planned renovations are part of a capital purchase program initialized in 2013 for Limerick FC and Linfield Fire Co. that Limerick Township will soon be finalizing, according to Limerick FC Chief Ken Shuler. In addition to the building renovations, Limerick FC will also be acquiring two new firefighting vehicles in the near future.

The renovation program will include: an additional bay in the front of the Ridge Pike station house, three additional bays in the rear of the building, a remodeling of the social hall into separate areas for female and male bunk rooms, offices for the chief and president, a recreation room, a training room and a storage room. Space will also be added to the engine room to permit firefighters to don their bunker gear.

The new firefighting apparatus that Limerick FC is planning to acquire includes an aerial ladder and an all-terrain (ATV) vehicle, Shuler pointed out. The new front bay will have an opening 14 feet high — two feet higher than current bays — in order to accommodate the new aerial ladder. The ladder, which will replace the company’s 2001 E-One straight ladder, is expected to be

acquired after completion of the new front bay— probably in 2016 or 2017.

The acquisition of the ATV, Shuler explained, is in anticipation of emergencies that might arise in the northern end of the township. In that area, he continued, there are about 140 acres of gameland, consisting of open space, golf courses and farms. The ATV, which will be equipped with fire suppression equipment and medical supplies, will give Limerick FC a new capability for dealing with emergencies in these areas, he said.

The three additional bays at the rear of the building will accommodate the ATV, along with a utility truck, a fire police truck, foam trailer and a fire prevention trailer, Shuler said.

For six years, Limerick FC’s Ridge Pike fire station has been home for a Trappe Ambulance substation.

“It’s great to have them with us. Everyone interacts well and we educate each other on emergency topics,” said Shuler. “However, the sleeping accommodations are a bit lacking. We only have one bunk room. That’s fine if the crew is either two men or two women. Sometimes, if there’s a male and a female on the crew, one has to sleep in the bunk room and the other sleeps on a couch in the lounge area. In inclement weather, when the number of calls increases, the situation becomes even worse. Presently, they have to bring sleeping bags and sleep on the carpet in the training room or the recreation room.”

The addition of separate male and female bunk rooms will alleviate that situation, he said.

The addition of a chief’s office is also expected to improve operational efficiency, Shuler said.

“Right now, I have to do my paperwork, telephone conference calls and other administrative work in a small communications room in the engine bay.”