Major renovations started in the fall of last year after mold was found inside the walls of the bunk area where firefighters sleep.

"We noticed a smell, and we just kept having problems with moisture," said Belton Fire Chief Bruce Pritchard.

Pritchard said the quality of the air was tested to make sure firefighters were not at risk of getting sick.

"Once they came and did the tests, that's the only place the mold was. The firefighters were never in danger," Pritchard said. "It wasn't exposed to the outside area. They found it once they got in it, so the living area was never exposed to the mold."

Public Works Director Jeremy Heuerman said the design services agreement, which will cost the city $74,500, will include services to make the former Apria Healthcare building into "a fully operational fire station." The building will need a new floor, new overhead doors, new windows, HVAC system and lighting.  

The Fire Station 3 building on South Banker Street has been appraised for $276,000. The city is expected to sell it for $200,000 to Russ Braunecker Buick-Cadillac-GMC, which will spend an estimated $76,000 in renovation and use it as an extension of its business.

Fire Chief Bob Tutko said the Jaycee Avenue facility will be updated to accommodate today's fire equipment and needs. The Banker Street fire station was built in the 1970s, and Tutko said the building has outlived its usefulness as a fire station.

The truck has been out of service since damage to its 100-foot tower ladder was discovered during a training exercise in April, Chief Evan Hasko said Friday.  

Meadville has mutual aid agreements with both Saegertown and Vernon Central volunteer fire departments for use of their aerial fire trucks, if needed, Hasko said. Several of the cross members on the ladder were damaged, but when and how it happened were unknown, Hasko said.

The truck, a 1993 Sutphen aerial ladder truck, has been sent to FAST (Fire Apparatus Service Technicians) of the Allegheny Mountains of Somerset for repairs.

The Chevy Tahoe – painted bright red with markings indicating it is a Buffalo fire truck – was parked unlocked at 120 Church St. and running with its overhead lights flashing when Jakyle E. Foster, 23, allegedly took it for a ride.  

Buffalo police caught Foster in the 200 block of  Virginia Street, about eight minutes later. Officers found him parked in a driveway, where he had hit a 2001 Chevrolet Camaro also parked there. Foster appeared to be intoxicated, police said.

Foster was charged with criminal possession of stolen property, a felony, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and criminal possession of stolen property, both misdemeanors. He also was charged with second-degree harassment. Officers said he made repeated verbal threats while being arrested.