Firefighters claim hard feelings over his career department not being called to 7-alarm fire result in volunteer chief’s firing
Firefighters from several different departments packed a meeting of Swissvale’s borough council Wednesday to demand answers about why an assistant fire chief was terminated last week.
Borough officials confirmed Jim Barca was fired, but would not explain why.
Barca’s job as assistant fire chief in Swissvale was a full-time, paid position. But he also serves as chief of the Homestead Volunteer Fire Department. His supporters believe his pink slip was in response to his handling of the massive blaze on Homestead’s 8th Avenue that destroyed several buildings in late January.
“So was he fired for being the chief of Homestead?” firefighter Ron May asked at the Swissvale meeting. “Or was he fired because Swissvale wasn’t called over to the historical fire in Homestead?”
Homestead firefighters received help from dozens of other fire companies on the day of the inferno, but Barca didn’t call for aid from Swissvale. His supporters believe that angered his boss, Swissvale Fire Chief Clyde Wilhelm, who is also the borough manager.
James Barco was relieved of his paid position as assistant chief last week. But residents and fellow firefighters say they, and Barco, deserve an answer.
Barco is also a volunteer chief in Homestead.
Council President Martin Busch told KDKA, “I can’t talk about it because it’s a personnel issue and we’re not allowed to talk about it.”
Many believe the firing has something to do with last month’s devastating blaze that tore through Homestead’s business district.
Swissvale, a paid municipal department, was not called in to battle that fire.
“There’s rumors going around that a certain party in Swissvale didn’t like it because he was not called to the fire in Homestead,” said Homestead firefighter Ronald Carr.
Carr, who has been fighting fires for 46 years, said there’s a good reason why Swissvale was not called in to assist.
“The reason is because we got a couple companies already over there from this area and somebody needs to stay back to protect this area,” he said.
Swissvale’s fire chief refused to comment but did refer questions to City Council President Marin Busch, who said he also couldn’t comment because the issue is a personnel one.
