Tim Sapienza, president of the Harmony Fire District, said officials are looking at several locations for the fire district's new headquarters. East Grandview Avenue in Zelienople has been considered as a possible site, but has received criticism from local residents. A final decision has not been made.

HARMONY — Although no decision has been made on the Harmony Fire District's new home, officials said they are looking at several areas between the borough and Zelienople.

The fire district has planned on moving since its inception in late 2015, citing the need for more room and more efficiency in responding to calls. Officials said they are about five years from building the new station.

Its current headquarters on Main Street in Harmony was also home to the former Harmony Volunteer Fire Department.

“Operationally, it's going to be better for the members,” Fire Chief Scott Garing told the Zelienople Council in January of a new location. “By bringing it (the fire station) between both (Zelienople and Harmony), we'll be able to get fire trucks out faster.”

The fire district has been speaking with residents and Zelienople borough officials about acquiring properties on East Grandview Avenue, a commercially zoned area.

Tim Sapienza, Harmony Fire District president, said the area was “highly recommended” by the Insurance Services Office, an advisory and rating organization, in order to keep the district's advantageous insurance rating.

Sapienza previously said the fire district has been able to better its ISO rating from a five to a three. He also said the fire district saved about $30,000 in insurance costs.

Residents could also see savings after the fire district sold old fire engines, Garing has said previously.

However, some residents have expressed concerns about the fire station moving into the area.

One such resident is Patty Leer-Silbert, who has lived with her husband, Gary Silbert, on East Grandview Avenue since March 2016.

Leer-Silbert said she is concerned with the potential noise from fire engines, impact on traffic and possible decreased resale value on homes.

“Grandview Avenue experiences heavy truck traffic, high-speed passenger cars and a significant amount of people using cross streets to get through town and around Main Street, avoiding lights,” she said in a letter to the borough. “This alone puts drivers and residents at great risk.”

Sapienza said residents have expressed concerns to him. He wants people to know no final decision has been made.

“We are just in the stages of looking at different properties,” he said. “We don't want to inconvenience people and upset them.”

Sapienza said another area the fire district is considering is the old borough salt shed near Northgate Plaza on Route 19 north of downtown Zelienople.

However, a geological study determined the site is not suitable due to flood areas and wetlands. Sapienza also said the fire district would have to coordinate with the state Department of Transportation since Route 19 is a state road.

“There is a possibility we will have a geologist revisit the salt shed out front to see if it's stable and suitable,” he said.

Other potential areas for the new station were not disclosed.

The fire district will give a full presentation on the plans once the properties in question have been purchased.

The former headquarters for the Zelienople Volunteer Fire Department was closed as members moved to the current headquarters in Harmony. Sapienza said that location would not have suited the fire district's needs.