Dissolving of Sandford, Ind. Fire Dept. Sparks Turf Spat – Firehouse

John Schoffstall, New Goshen fire chief, issued a media release, detailing his agency\’s side of a 21/2-year process, which has culminated in its assumption of fire protection for Sandford.

According to Schoffstall, the Sandford department approached his in June 2010, advising it would be dissolved because of lack of funds and volunteers. At that time, he said, Sandford requested to be declared part of the New Goshen Fire District.

\”This didn\’t mean hide nor hair to us. We were doing this as a favor to them,\” he said Thursday in his station. Residents of that district deserve protection too, though, he said, and he agreed to initiate the process required to cover that district.

Schoffstall stated in his release that, \”It was represented to the New Goshen Fire and Rescue that the firehouse, equipment and funds from the Sandford Fire Department would be turned over to the New Goshen Fire and Rescue in order that those assets would be used for providing fire protection in the future for the taxpayers of the area that had previously been protected by the Sandford Fire Department.\”