Chesco's Atglen fire station to close

CHESTER COUNTY

Atglen fire station to close

PARKESBURG Starting Sunday, Keystone Valley Fire Department will no longer send out fire trucks from its Atglen station, which it plans to sell.

Officials at the regional fire department - which provides fire, rescue and ambulance services to about 20 square miles of western Chester County - said they made the "difficult decision" to stop using one of their three stations after analyzing staffing levels, call volume, and locations of calls, according to a statement.

Also, Atglen Borough primarily uses Christiana Fire Company in nearby Lancaster County. Officials said the closure came from the need to be "fiscally prudent."

Until Keystone Valley Fire Department sells the building, it will use the space to store equipment and train personnel. The fire company has 54 active volunteers and 21 part-time staff.

Fire companies in Atglen, Parkesburg, and Pomeroy merged to form the Keystone Valley Fire Department in 2013.

"On behalf of the past Atglen Fire Company members, we want to thank the Atglen community for their support in years past," officials said.

Caren Andrews, Atglen's borough manager, thanked the fire department for helping to keep residents safe. - Michaelle Bond