5 Undercliff Volunteer Firefighters Suspended In Shaler Twp

According to township and fire department officials, five members of Shaler Township’s Undercliff Volunteer Fire Company have been suspended for allegedly responding to a call while intoxicated.

Saler Township’s Undercliff Volunteer Fire Company

According to John Klocko Sr., president of Undercliff Fire Company, the suspensions were implemented on Thursday, August 8, in response to a concern raised by an emergency call on East Genesee Avenue on August 2. According to Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services spokesperson Kasey Reigner, the call was determined to be a false alarm after seven firefighters arrived at the scene of a reported smoke odor inside a house.

Later, a local claimed that multiple firefighters at the scene were intoxicated in an anonymous complaint sent to the municipality. According to town officials, the fire company was tasked with handling the situation and had already started to address the accusations.

We think that there was a violation. We are unsure of the exact amount. Klocko informed the outlet that it is being investigated and that this is the first time the department has dealt with such a circumstance.

Officers on the site were not informed of concerns at the time, according to Shaler police, and no complaint was submitted to their department. The response’s body camera footage is being examined.

As part of its internal disciplinary procedure, the Undercliff Volunteer Fire Company stated that the suspensions might result in expulsions, which would need a two-thirds majority from all of its members. Before reaching a conclusion, the Board of Directors is supposed to examine the results.

The fire department told the media in a statement:

We will follow our internal disciplinary review procedure because we take this extremely seriously. Our dedication to offering our community first-rate fire and rescue services is unwavering.

In a statement to WPXI, Shaler Township Manager Judith Kording also mentioned that while the township does not regulate volunteer fire departments, it does offer insurance for the majority of their vehicles.

“The safety of our residents and all volunteer firefighters is our top priority,” she stated. We have faith that the Undercliff Volunteer Fire Company’s Board of Directors will handle the situation appropriately.

There were no reports of damage or injuries during the call on August 2.