Mohnton Firehouse Feud Flares

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The rift between Mohnton‘s fire crew and the social club that oversees it was years in the making.

But the catalyst, both sides agree, was a dispute over the Friendship Fire Company No. 2 of Mohnton’s stand selling waffles and ice cream at Gov. Mifflin Community Days.

The fire crew and social club clashed over where fundraising proceeds should go and who should be allowed to volunteer at the stand. Simmering tensions between the two factions boiled over, leading to the first of back-to-back suspensions of Fire Chief Allen Detwiler.

Now Detwiler and his volunteer engine crew are asking borough government to separate the department and social club.

Read more:  http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=520511

Reading Fire Chief Surprises Mayor With Immediate Resignation

In a surprise move Monday, city Fire Chief David W. Hollinger resigned for personal reasons after a little more than a year on the job.

Mayor Vaughn D. Spencer said the chief came back from vacation to hand him the resignation, which was effective immediately.  Spencer said he accepted it with regret and wishes Hollinger well.

“I’ve been making it clear: I did not ask for his resignation,” Spencer said. “I was surprised.  I believe he was doing a good job.”

Hollinger, 53, could not be reached for comment.  He and the firefighters union had battled over several issues, but it’s not known if that had any role in his resignation.

Read more:   http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=491617

Argument Over Parenting Leads To Pottstown Arson Fire

Location of Pottstown in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

(Updated at 3 p.m.) POTTSTOWN, PA — A borough woman was arrested for setting fire to her own home Sunday night after an argument with her domestic partner over parenting techniques with their children caused the police to be called.

Cora Lee Sharp, 48, is charged with arson after starting a fire in the kitchen of the home the couple and their two adopted children share on the 900 block of Spruce Street, according to the Pottstown Police.

The Pottstown Fire Department was dispatched to the residence around 9:06 p.m. Sunday and found multiple fires burning on the property, said Fire Chief Richard Lengel.

After 22 minutes, the fires, which were isolated to Sharp’s property, were extinguished.

Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20120828/NEWS01/120829459/argument-over-parenting-leads-to-pottstown-arson-fire-(video)&pager=full_story