What is it going to take?
We need your help!
In September of 2018, the leadership of Warminster Fire Department and Hartsville Fire Company met with Township Officials to discuss the state of the fire service in Warminster Township. Both agencies identified the need to supplement volunteers with career firefighters during the daytime hours, when most volunteers are working out of the area. Requests for fire services during this period are equal to or greater than most of our neighboring municipalities that have already hired daytime staffing. The township requested both agencies participate in a study to identify any deficiencies in the services being provided. After several months of collecting data the study was presented by Emergency Services Consulting International at the June 2019 Board of Supervisors Meeting. The study revealed that while Warminster Township is protected by two highly trained agencies, that are financially stable with great facilities and apparatus; the community’s projected population growth, aging population, increased call volume and reduced staffing lead them to recommend Warminster Township begin the planning stages of supplementing volunteers with career staff.
At the time of the presentation, the Township Supervisors and officials from both agencies all spoke in support of the study, but it seems that support has stalled. Staffing is not getting any better, and call volume is increasing. Interest in volunteering in general is down nationally, but the impact of diminished interest in volunteer firefighting is especially impactful.
Warminster Township residents best bargain has been the volunteer firefighter. Volunteer firefighters have saved the township millions in tax dollars and have always been there for you. Unfortunately, due to declining membership and increased calls for service, we now need your help. Please support us by letting township officials know that you support the move to hire career staffing as we work together to plan the future of the fire service here in Warminster Township.
Please watch the video below to learn more!
This week, the Warminster Fire Department found out that Warminster Township would not be pursuing the SAFER grant. We were not included in any discussions and our calls and emails were ignored by township leadership. We only found out by watching the Supervisors meeting.
We understand that our current financial issues are made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the townships decisions are being made in a vacuum, with no regard for the insight of our Township Fire Officials.