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OSCEOLA – People who live in Osceola are wondering why the town board let go four of the town's top volunteer firefighters.
And some business owners are concerned about what it all means for public safety.
WSBT contacted Osceola Town Board President Jim Loney who said he won't comment on personnel issues.
Osceola is located in Penn Township and is just over one-square mile.
A sign outside the Osceola Town Hall and Police Station says "The Little Town with a Big Heart." And now, it’s a smaller volunteer fire department after the town board voted Tuesday night to get rid of its four top ranking firefighters, including the fire chief, assistant chief, captain and a lieutenant.
"Right away, the first question that came to my mind was why?" said Dewey Crocker, owner of OC Cafe' located on Lincolnway.
Crocker says all his morning customers were talking about the decision to shakeup the department.
"If we've cut our force in half, are we half as protected?" Crocker wonders. "I have my life savings all wrapped up into this (restaurant)."
Wednesday evening, WSBT spoke with Lt. Justin Barber, one of the firefighters forced to resign from the department. Barber says he and the three other firefighters were ordered to appear for a special town board meeting Tuesday night.
He said they were "blindsided" when the board told them they needed to either sign resignation papers or be fired.
Even though the department is unpaid, volunteers are required to fill out employment paperwork so they can be covered under the town's insurance coverage.
Barber, who’s been with the department nearly two years, says he repeatedly asked why, and board members avoided answering. Barber says he and the other top ranking firefighters were working to improve the department by getting volunteers certified and upgrading aging equipment.
Barber says the town's ladder truck has been out of service since July, but the board refuses to pay to repair it citing lack of funds. He says he grew up in Osceola and only wants what's best for the town's residents.
The Osceola Volunteer Fire Department Facebook page has several department photos on it, averaging ten people in them.
Loney say they have 14 people on their department. However, WSBT learned only 8 of those are active and with half being cut, leaves only four on call volunteers.
After Tuesday's meeting those remaining firefighters did respond to a medical related call.
But Osceola has put out its own call for help to the Penn Township Fire Department.
"I have had a conversation with one official over there. He stated they are reorganizing their fire department," said Penn Township Fire Chief John VanBruaene.
"They would still like to have us as a first response until further notice." added VanBruaene.
For three years, Penn Township Fire, which has two stations, has been helping cover the Osceola area.
VanBruaene says they help out on a "good-faith" basis, because the two departments have been in merger talks.
So far this year Penn has responded to at least 150 calls in Osceola, mainly during the day. But VanBruaene expects with the Osceola Fire Department shakeup to have his firefighters cover that area more often both day and night.
"Something we do for free," VanBrauene said. "Our main concern is that that community doesn't go unprotected.”
VanBrauene says several of the Osceola volunteer firefighters let go were on a merger transition team looking into the idea.
He's requested a meeting with the Osceola Town Board but hasn't gotten a response.
VanBrauene is planning on attending their next meeting December 19 in hopes of getting some clarity on this situation and how long their help will be needed. He says one of his concerns is to make sure the taxpayers and residents of Penn Township are covered properly since they are the ones funding the Penn Township Fire Department.