Clerical error leaves Munhall residents without fire department for 24 hours

MUNHALL, Pa. — A clerical error left borough residents of Munhall without a fire department for all of Wednesday.

Channel 11 first learned of the mistake that closed the department’s doors from a viewer’s tip on the WPXI Facebook page and went straight to the Munhall fire chief for answers.

The chief said the fire department never received a $1,200 insurance bill for worker compensation insurance for firefighters, so their insurance policy was cancelled.

Channel 11 is working to learn who is responsible for mailing the check to pay the bill, but in the meantime, the big question residents want answered is who has their back if there's a fire.

The fire chief said surrounding fire departments, including Homestead's fire department, will be watching over the area. Munhall firefighters will be back on duty at 12:01 a.m. Thursday after a new insurance policy takes effect.

Some residents remain concerned about the possibility of a major fire happening in the community before then.

“What if it's one of those days when something big happens that took the other ones longer to get here, and they are not available?” Munhall resident Deborah Petty said.

Cox Media Group