Officials discipline firefighter

NEW SPRINGFIELD -- A Springfield Township firefighter has been disciplined as the result of an accident in which an emergency vehicle struck and damaged a mobile home Feb. 2.
Township trustees accepted Fire Chief Brian Hughes' recommendation that firefighter Albert Rivalsky be placed on 60 days' probation for driving in a manner unsafe for conditions and that he be required to take remedial driving classes.
A police report says Rivalsky was driving a fire and rescue vehicle Feb. 2 in slippery road conditions responding to a call at the C & amp;C Mobile Home Park on Struthers Road.
He was traveling east on Oak and tried to turn into Pine Street when he slid off the road and struck a pole and a mobile home. Rivalsky was not cited for the accident.
Paul Cralle, owner of the damaged mobile home, told trustees he was not home at the time, but arrived later to find a crack in the wall of his residence, as well as lamps, pictures, a fluorescent light and other items knocked to the floor. He said his mobile home was actually moved by the impact.
Since the accident, Cralle said his pipes have frozen because of the damage and his doors are difficult to close. He said a representative of the township's insurance company told him he will not be reimbursed because of the township's sovereign immunity protection.
Trustees said they will contact the insurance company and get back to Cralle. Cralle said he fears that if he turns the claim into his homeowner's insurance, his rates will increase.