Station 13 firefighters hit obstacles with funding, equipment questions

Volunteer firefighters who broke with the Salisbury Fire Department’s Station 1 in February are facing new challenges in their efforts to start a fire station and gain their own territory.

The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore is withholding money from an endowment for volunteer fire companies, and the Maryland State Firemen’s Association has determined the station, formerly known as Company 1, doesn’t meet standards to retain its membership in the organization, according to documents obtained by The Daily Times.

Erica Joseph, president of the Community Foundation, informed station members that money from the Lacy Fund would be held in a separate account indefinitely until certain legal matters are cleared up.

BACKGROUND: Firefighter walkout due to staffing dispute with city

The foundation has questions about whether the fire company, which has since been renamed Salisbury Independent Volunteer Fire Company Station 13, has obtained nonprofit status and recognition from city and county governments, Joseph said in a letter dated July 31.

Cory Polidore, chief of Station 13, said in a previous interview that the company was expecting $25,000 from the Lacy Fund.

Polidore could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

The Standards Committee of the firemen’s association said the fire company when contacted in June “did not possess all of the facilities and equipment required to maintain membership in the MSFA as required by Article I Section 2 of the MSFA Constitution,” the committee chairman Ken Bush said in his report.

“To date, the writer has received no information indicating that the Salisbury Fire Department, Inc. Co. 1 is in possession of the facilities or equipment required to meet the standards of this Association, and no field verification of the status of that department has been completed by the MSFA Standards Committee,” Bush said in his report released this week.

Station 13 has a fire truck and on Aug. 8 firefighters announced it was back from getting decals and lettering. 

READ MORE:The Salisbury volunteer firefighters split: A timeline

The latest setbacks for the fire company came about the same time that Salisbury City Council members made clear they do not want to award territory to the firefighters, and plan to abide by the fire service agreement with Wicomico County.

The fire service agreement was signed by Salisbury Mayor Jake Day and Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver on April 7. It was approved by the Salisbury City Council on April 24 and by the Wicomico County Council on May 16. County Council President John Cannon and Day both agree the map attached to the new contract delineates the territories for all thee Salisbury fire stations, but not for Station 13.

Any changes to the agreement have to have the approval of the city, county and the Wicomico County Volunteer Fire Chiefs Association.

The City Council’s decision got the full support of Mike Dunn, president and CEO of the Greater Salisbury Committee, and Bill Chambers, president and CEO of the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce.

A few days after the City Council meeting, Wayne Strausburg, the county’s director of administration, wrote in an email to Laura Hurley, the County Council administrator, that “there is no need to pursue the matter further” in light of the city’s decision.

“The executive has, therefore, instructed me to cancel our endorsement regarding the matter,” Strausburg wrote.

However, Culver later said that was a misunderstanding. Culver could not be reached for further clarification early Wednesday afternoon. 

In a Facebook post Tuesday, Station 13 members criticized a news story by a local television station that they said implied the fire company had run out of options and support. The story, they said was “misleading and 100 percent false.” 

Station 13 members urged followers to contact Wicomico County Council members: “Maybe now they will listen to you since the council members of the city of Salisbury seem to think this is a joking matter. Don't let your life be a choice or a joke to those you elected.”

Twitter: @LizHolland5