Second Alarmers Will Have a Place to Call Home

Whitpain’s rescue squad will have a real home. On Tuesday, the Whitpain Township Board of Supervisors approved a plan to place Second Alarmers Rescue Squad’s (SARS) building close to the township building and police department (see aerial photo with diagram).

Architects and civil engineers may now begin working on plans for the new building.

Residents objected to a previous plan to place the rescue squad’s building on Wentz Run Park property close to the historic Boxwood House, bordering Skippack Pike.

As previously reported, the proposed $1.5 million building has room for six ambulances and other equipment, along with community space to hold blood drives and tours or training. It will be built and owned by SARS, but the township will still own the land. View SARS' building plans here.

SARS Executive Director Jamie Haddon says $500,000 has been raised for the building. SARS is a nonprofit organization that raises funds through service reimbursements, grants and donations. Individuals may donate to the Whitpain SARS building here.

Patch also previously reported that the rescue squad now operates out of a in one of the township's parking lots. Currently, $400,000 worth of equipment sits outside in the elements. The trucks need to be kept plugged in because the drugs and chemicals in the vehicles need to be kept at specific temperatures; otherwise, they aren’t good for the human body.

Township Manager Roman Pronczak says placing SARS’ permanent building close to the township’s building will create more of an architectural match, rather than standing in stark contrast to very old buildings.

Other sites considered were too close to the tot lot, a picnic pavilion and basketball court.

Access to Wentz Road and Skippack Pike were major considerations, so rescue vehicles could get on roads quickly to answer calls.

The Wentz Road driveway currently used by police and township employees will only be used by SARS as an entrance and exit. An access road onto Skippack Pike will be one-way only for outbound rescue vehicles. Pronczak wants to "minimize the number of trees taken out" to construct the road.

The parking lot near the Olsen House will remain intact.

Pronczak says "a fence, berm or landscaping" will be necessary for safety along the second access road leading to Skippack Pike because it is near the tot lot.

SARS is also planning a 9-11 Memorial Garden that will be created with a piece of steel from the World Trade Center. Haddon went through an extensive application process to obtain the 12-foot, 3,200-pound beam. He is awaiting word from the Port Authority to pick up it up. 

Afterward,  Haddon says he will recruit an artist to "let the beam speak to him" to design the memorial.

Supervisor Chairman Joseph J. Palmer believes the plan is “heading in the right direction.” SARS responded to more than 5,600 calls between 2007 and 2010, Palmer said.  He added that having SARS centrally located in the township has cut response time by more than two minutes, which is a lot when seconds count.