Braddock Hills is a little-known community adjacent to Forest Hills and Swissvale, about one-mile square, with some 2,000 residents.
Major real estate there includes the empty Holiday Inn below Brinton Road, and a principal landmark is Foli's -- a popular roadhouse.
But the town has been very much on the map since April when its official fire department did not extinguish a fire about 100 feet from the fire house. That fire was handled by the Swissvale Fire Department, which came up the hill from about a mile away.
Those are facts. Beyond that, the story depends upon whom you ask.
Why is the fire department in partnership with a private club -- essentially a bar? The Braddock Hills Welfare and Fire Association is a relic from the 1930s chartered to take revenues from its saloon to fund the fire company. The club and the fire house share adjacent buildings at Park and McKinley avenues.
Is there racial discrimination afoot concerning membership in that club and in the fire department, as some have charged?
Will the borough decide to purchase fire protection, as outlined in a proposal from Swissvale Fire Chief Clyde Wilhelm?
Can the traditional "mutual aid" program among municipal fire companies function if a member fire department does not pull its weight?
News media have been all over this story for about two months now because it typifies the problems of many of our region's tiny little communities trying to maintain their traditional structure -- with their own elected government, police and fire capabilities -- in the face of 21st Century realities.
The smoke may begin to clear on June 19 when the borough hosts a public meeting to hear from residents, fire fighters, public officials and other interested parties about what happens next. Borough Secretary Cheryl Sorrentino said that event is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Propel School on Yost Boulevard.
Major real estate there includes the empty Holiday Inn below Brinton Road, and a principal landmark is Foli's -- a popular roadhouse.
But the town has been very much on the map since April when its official fire department did not extinguish a fire about 100 feet from the fire house. That fire was handled by the Swissvale Fire Department, which came up the hill from about a mile away.
Those are facts. Beyond that, the story depends upon whom you ask.
Why is the fire department in partnership with a private club -- essentially a bar? The Braddock Hills Welfare and Fire Association is a relic from the 1930s chartered to take revenues from its saloon to fund the fire company. The club and the fire house share adjacent buildings at Park and McKinley avenues.
Is there racial discrimination afoot concerning membership in that club and in the fire department, as some have charged?
Will the borough decide to purchase fire protection, as outlined in a proposal from Swissvale Fire Chief Clyde Wilhelm?
Can the traditional "mutual aid" program among municipal fire companies function if a member fire department does not pull its weight?
News media have been all over this story for about two months now because it typifies the problems of many of our region's tiny little communities trying to maintain their traditional structure -- with their own elected government, police and fire capabilities -- in the face of 21st Century realities.
The smoke may begin to clear on June 19 when the borough hosts a public meeting to hear from residents, fire fighters, public officials and other interested parties about what happens next. Borough Secretary Cheryl Sorrentino said that event is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Propel School on Yost Boulevard.
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