By Justin Eger
reprinted with permission of the author

 
Few longtime residents will argue that Gallitzin tends to see some
very harsh winter weather. Just a few years ago, the town was hit with
a very severe ice storm, one that left residents without power and
created some hazardous situations. Even emergency services were
hampered by the storm, with little ability to support the residents
without power of their own. However, the situation can now be
considered a lesson learned, and a recent acquisition made by the
Gallitzin Volunteer Fire Company provides a little extra safety in the
event of a serious emergency.

Firefighters at Gallitzin recently purchased a brand new 20 kilowatt
generator that was installed at the fire hall just a few weeks ago.
The new generator provides some serious power to the fire hall, and
firefighter Mike Sanders explained that it can be used to power the
entire fire hall, putting everything into use except for the fire
siren should the power be cut off to Station 71. Should such an
incident occur, the generator will kick in just seven seconds after
the power goes out, keeping the station alive and functioning even if
the rest of the town might not be. As such, the fire hall can be
considered a designated emergency station, somewhere people can come
in case of a town-wide emergency.

The new generator cost about $11,000, a large portion of which was
provided to the firefighters by State Representative Gary Haluska.
Haluska stopped by the fire hall last week to check out the investment
of state funds, and found it to be a worthwhile use of taxpayer
dollars, one that will be a benefit to the community.
“This gives the community a safe place to come in the event of an
emergency,” Haluska explained, noting that similar grants of $5,000
have been put to use up and down the Mainline, including in Cresson,
Hastings, and Gallitzin. “It’s a good investment of tax dollars, a
great use that gives back to the community and helps a lot of people.”

Haluska added that he hopes to see these community revitalization
grants get placed back into the state budget in coming years, as they
“work out well,” and provide for things that communities and the
volunteer emergency services might not otherwise be able to afford.

Representatives of the Gallitzin Volunteer Fire Company thanked
Haluska for the support, and also took time to thank several other
businesses that helped with the installation of the new generator.
Thanks were offered to Wicklow Fuel for donating the concrete slab
that the generator was mounted on, and Algas was thanked for helping
install the generator and providing the propane that makes it run.
 

Left to Right: Fire Company President Doug Burk, Assistant Chief Mike Sanders, State Representative Gary Haluska, Fire Chief Jim Nagle and Vice President Jack Nagle. Photo by Justin Eger