Unless volunteers in the station are interested in acquiring the city-owned building, the city may have to dispose of it, Hagerstown Fire Chief Steve Lohr said during a council work session.

Pioneer Hook and Ladder houses part of the fire department's operations, but there is a group of volunteers who are in charge of day-to-day operation of the building, Lohr said.

The city recently purchased two 100-foot ladder trucks, making them the biggest rigs in the department's fleet.

One was to be stationed at Pioneer Hook and Ladder, but it is a very cramped space for the truck, Lohr said in an interview before Tuesday's meeting.

He told Bruchey and council members that there was only "inches of clearance" around the truck after it was pulled into the station.

After it was delivered to the city, it was temporarily housed at a city fire station on Eastern Boulevard, he said.

Lohr said he believes the truck should be stationed permanently at the Eastern Boulevard station.

Pioneer Hook and Ladder, which was completed in about 1915, is part of the city's long firefighting history.

Lohr said the building was constructed at a time when downtown fire stations were situated based on the ability of a horse to run eight blocks.