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The Muncy Area Volunteer Fire Department is preparing to put a building project for a new fire hall to bid, according to its chief.
Scott Delaney, Muncy Area Vol. Fire Dept. chief, said the construction will cheapen the building upkeep and will consolidate the three different buildings the department owns into one new building.
"We are very, very excited," Delaney said. "The old fire station was not really built to accommodate the large vehicles we have now."
The move will eventually relocate the fire hall from Main Street in Muncy Borough to East Penn Street in Muncy Township, right next to Brumer Pond Road.
The department purchased the property around a year ago for around $230,000, according to Delaney.
Whereas before, firefighters had to pull off of Main Street directly into the old fire house's bays, now, the fire trucks will pull into a parking lot, and consequently a drive-through bay.
"Getting in and out of Main Street, especially when there's a lot of traffic, can be very difficult and is definitely a hazard," Delaney said. "It will be much safer for us and the public."
Delaney said the construction will upgrade the department from four closed bays, to six pull-through bays.
The new fire hall will strictly be a fire station, and will feature offices, a meeting room, and a day-kitchen for the staff to use while they are there.
It will also have bunk-rooms for paid staff and to accommodate the live-in program.
Previously, the Muncy Area Volunteer Fire Department owned the Clarkstown Station in Muncy Creek Township and the Paul Geringer social hall, which were acquired when several departments merged into Station 39.
Delaney said the department sold both of those properties, yielding around $800,000. That money was used to purchase the new property and pay off some debt.
The rest of that money will be used to fund the construction of the building.
The department intends on selling the fire hall on Main Street, which was previously owned by the borough, according to Delaney. Muncy Borough Council unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding during its December meeting that will allow the department to sell the fire hall at a time the department is ready to do so.
These moves are paving the way to allow the department to consolidate into one, modern building that is insulated to current standards. This is going to cut costs, according to Delaney.
"It is a metal-type building that will look aesthetically correct for the area. It will be appealing to the eye on the outside," Delaney highlighted for area residents. "It's not going to include a social hall-just a fire station."
According to Delaney, a lack of manpower and time prevents the department from operating a social hall.
Construction is expected to begin this coming spring, Delaney said.