By Mari A. Schaefer
The Philadelphia Inquirer
COLWYN, Pa. — A social club serving alcohol at the Colwyn Borough Fire Company was raided by state police Thursday night, while at the same time all 17 active volunteer firefighters resigned, citing conflicts with the department’s social-club members.
The Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control seized two illegal video slot machines, other gambling equipment, approximately 10 bottles of liquor purchased from outside of the state and about $2,100 in cash.
Colwyn is a dry town and licenses to sell alcohol are not issued in the borough, a state official said.
“The guys together have had it with what is going on inside the social club,” Fire Chief Richard Guerra said of the mass resignation. He said the use of alcohol by social-club members has created an “unsafe environment” for the active firefighters.
The fire company, in the small Delaware County borough of about 2,000 residents, has almost 100 members, of which only 17 are active firefighters. The remaining members are social members and do not respond to fires.
For now, fire coverage for the borough will be provided by companies in Darby Borough and Collingdale, said Bill Smith, the borough manager. “It is a little bit of an additional distance but it will not jeopardize public safety.”
John Fitzgerald, Colwyn mayor and vice president of the fire company, could not be reached for comment.
Colwyn Police Chief Bryan Hills did not return calls for comment.
The complaint to the Bureau of Liquor Control was made by a municipal official, according to police.
Though the investigation is still ongoing, police said they did anticipate filing charges in connection with the gambling. State Police Sgt. William La Torre noted there was a full bar at the club.
“We didn’t observe any operations tonight consistent with a speakeasy, so we just took action on the other two items,” he said, referring to the gambling and liquor purchased in the state of Delaware. “We were able to confirm Colwyn is a dry town. You can’t get a [liquor] license.”
Officers only confiscated alcohol that was illegally purchased, he said.
Ed Bradley, borough solicitor, said the borough government is “100 percent supportive of the [active] volunteer firemen.” He said the municipality is appalled by what the state police uncovered.
“The council wants to get an accounting of funds in the fire company,” said Bradley.
Guerra said about 75 percent of the active volunteers live outside the borough. The facilities for the active department, a small room with two futon couches and a television, make it hard to recruit volunteers. The social-club bar includes a pool table and shuffleboard in a room the size of the fire-truck garage, he said.
“The borough needs to make a choice, either they want a social club or they want firefighters who are all trained and certified,” said Geurra. “The community needs to step up and say they want the firefighters back.”
Copyright 2008, The Philadelphia Inquirer