Trails End: a tragedy in the offing?

Shohola Township pleads for access

By SANDY LONG

SHOHOLA, PA — The first recent fire at Trails End recreational camping community on September 24 destroyed two trailers, damaged a third and caused multiple propane tanks to explode. The second, only 11 days later, resulted in the death of a dog and loss of another trailer.

In an attempt to avoid further tragedy, the Shohola Township Board of Supervisors approved a motion at its October 9 meeting to send a letter to the community’s board of directors and community manager to request “unfettered access” to the gated community for the purpose of identifying remaining hazards.

The letter calls the first fire “one of several recent near disasters which might have been prevented had the Recreational Vehicle Campsite of the fire’s origin been compliant with the Township’s Zoning Ordinance.” It continues, “The fire that engulfed two recreational vehicles and partially damaged a third may have been caused by the overload of electrical current that was wired into the finished room which had insulation, air conditioning and electrical wiring and outlets installed in direct violation of Township Ordinance # 44 Section 528.16.”

The fires have re-ignited a long-standing dispute between the gated community and the township. Buried in the metaphorical ashes is a history of complaints and problems that fill several filing cabinets in the township building. Many of these revolve around charges that property owners in the camping community have added permanent structures like enclosed rooms and illegal wiring to the trailers and recreational vehicles that rest on the lots.

“It’s a campsite community,” said township supervisor Nelia Wall. “These were never intended to be permanent structures.”

Since 1972, the 400 acres and 1,851 lots comprising Trails End have been gradually filling up. Each lot measures 90 feet by 50 feet and is connected to a 30-amp electrical service. Therein lies part of the problem, according to Shohola Fire Chief/Zoning Officer Don Wall and Assistant Fire Chief/Assistant Zoning Officer Clint Malzahn, who maintain that the service is inadequate to handle the growing electrical needs of some property owners.

The township’s letter is the latest step in a series of measures aimed at gaining better access to the community. The township maintains that it seeks the same access to properties protected behind Trails End’s locked gates that it has throughout the rest of the township—the ability to observe conditions from the roadway. In its most recent attempt to secure that access through the Pike County Court of Common Pleas, Judge Greg Chelak ruled in favor of “unfettered access” for the township. But when township officials showed up at Trails End, they claim they were again denied access and must now file for contempt of court.

The letter addresses this issue: “We are dismayed by the repeated rejections of court-ordered unfettered access to inventory and document existing conditions which affect the safety of both our emergency responders and your Trails End property owners and visitors.

“At this time, we are again requesting that you permit our Zoning Officers unfettered access to enter Trails End to inspect, from the roadway, for illegal structures, excess wiring, setbacks, plain-view violations and propane tank placement.”

Trails End Community Manager Pamela Valenza said the zoning officer visits the community weekly and is not denied access to perform his duties. But Wall and Malzahn contend that they are only allowed to visit projects for which a permit has been filed and they are escorted to and from the specific site by the community’s security personnel. “It’s preventing us from finding things that could help us avoid a tragedy,” said Malzahn.

The letter also charges that other hazards, such as old propane tanks, pose additional risk for volunteer firefighters and residents: “Firefighters from mutual aid companies as well as Shohola Township were put at risk of injury or even death due to the multiple explosions of propane tanks stored under the trailers and inside sheds. Many of these tanks were later found to be out of date and therefore prone to explosion.”

According to Wall, such valves under high pressure can act “like a shotgun,” blowing off randomly with extreme force. “It’s a very bad situation,” said Wall. “A firefighter could easily get maimed or even killed.”

In response to the second fire, an addendum was posted to the initial letter citing additional violations of Ordinance #44 when firefighters “encountered a burning room attached to a recreational vehicle,” as well as the storage of out-of-date propane tanks on the site.

The letter concludes, “It is time to work together to protect lives and property.”

Valenza declined further comment, citing ongoing litigation. “I can’t argue this in the newspaper,” she said.