A handful of volunteer firefighters in Upper Providence are concerned the township is moving towards a taxpayer-funded municipal fire department.
They point to the recent purchase of a $400,000 Pierce Fire Engine as one indicator. Six volunteer fire companies serve this Montgomery County township (Oaks, Mont Clare, Humane Royersford, Friendship Royersford, Collegeville and Trappe).
Two volunteers, who declined to be interviewed for this story, said Upper Providence is in the early planning stages of a new fire station on Black Rock Road.
Lee Milligan, assistant township manager, has heard this rumor “on the street,” too.
He says the board of supervisors shot down the fire station concept, which was part of a 20-year “long-term needs assessment.”
However, Milligan acknowledged that Upper Providence could receive grant money in the future from FEMA to build such a facility.
“If the federal government is going to give us the majority of money, we would reconsider,” he said.
Approximately 14 township employees – from code enforcement and public works – supplement the six volunteer fire companies. During daytime emergency calls, these employees often encountered delays in getting equipment “out of the shop,” he said.
The township is hoping the truck mitigates this problem and enhances response times.
Demand for emergency services has risen over the past 10 years, Milligan says, corresponding with an uptick in commercial and residential construction growth. Of all emergency calls that come through the township, about 3 percent are for structure fire, according to the assistant manager.
Upper Providence does have a Fire & Emergency Services Department, headed by Donald Stiteler. The Fire & Emergency Services Board meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m.
The supervisors meet tonight, July 20, in the township building for a regular meeting.
Last fall, the township announced plans to standardize many internal functions of the six volunteer companies, including emergency response procedures, firefighter training, and officer qualifications.
July 24th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
With everyone so concerned about their taxes, does everyone know that UP does not have a property tax?? Haven’t had it for about 7 years or so.
July 24th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Time Check: It’s after 16:30 hours! I guess some can only post during their work hours. I wonder how many buildings got inspected today!
July 24th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Why does the township pay firemarshalls or whatever you want to call them to investigate fires when lately they have not been coming out? When the Volunteers are gone because of these tools who will come out when they don’t feel like it. This whole situation smells badly and the Oaks and Mont Clare Fire Companies have alot to be worried about, as well do the other outside agencies.
July 24th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Since again you are skirting the original issues I will post this again. Please reread the original article also. This apparently was not an issue of the money it was about the way it was handled.
proud volunteer fireman Says:
July 24th, 2009 at 10:46 am
So, I’ve read this article like 9 times and I don’t see anywhere that it says the volunteers aren’t happy about the township guys being trained or going to fire calls. What I get out of it is that the volunteers that Mr Hays talked to were concerned that they were being replaced. It doesn’t even say that the volunteers are against the purchase of the $400,000 engine. What it does say is that they are concerned about a “taxpayer-funded municipal fire department”. The engine was just an “indicator” of this happening.
I have gone to DFES meetings before where township staff and supervisors told the volunteers that they have no intention of creating another fire station or fire company. They also said that the “employee volunteers” were there to supplement the volunteers. The way things have been going and the things that have been coming out at meetings shows me that the volunteers have been lied to. If you are not trying to create another fire company then why are you going to build another fire station? Why are you going for your own station number? Why are you referring to the director of DFES as chief? What is the purpose of the DFES Board if you are going to do whatever you want anyway? This is what I see as the issues.
In the 20 years I have been volunteering my time and services there have been a lot of ups and downs, this is the lowest I’ve felt. It used to be fun, and by fun I mean enjoyable, to go to the station and hang out and socialize with the other “guys” while maintaining the equipment or participating in drills. It’s just not fun anymore. And for the person that says that UPT should go fully paid, you are an ass. There are many highly trained professional volunteers that have committed many years of their lives to this community and to replace them is foolish.
I will close with this, moral is down at all 6 companies because of things that have been said and done over the last year or so at the township level. When the township “volunteer employees” got paid to take then passed their PA State Fire Fighting 1 certification they were recognized at a township meeting and the State Fire Commissioner was brought in to give them their certificates. Most of the volunteers have at least this certification, which now takes 160 + hours to complete, on their own personal time without getting paid. When has the township recognized any of the volunteers for their accomplishments? We are separated and treated differently every chance you get. We are supposed to be a department, when is it going to start feeling that way?
PS – I don’t agree with everything that was said by the volunteers on here either, I try to keep an open mind when going into anything.
July 24th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
I have been a resident at Upper Providence for a long time now and needed the fire company a couple of times. Trappe Fire comapany came to my house when there was a fire in my kitchen. They came fast and the other Volunteer Fire Companies came fast did a great job and put the fire out really quick before it spread. They do a hell of a job and saved my house! The Upper Providence township is getting out of control with all the shopping centers, building all kinds of stores everywhere, road work everywhere and now payed fire comapanies. I live in Upper Providence and am up set about what is happening To this area! My taxes are high enough and i dont want them to be higher! The Volunteer Companies are fine, Outstanding, and get very little credit. The board needs to relize that this is WRONG and not need to spend money on new fire trucks. The the other companies and the surrounding area companies work hard, train hard, and put out fires FAST, and of course volunteer! Great Job Volunteer Fire Fighters!
And to ” Somebody Smarter Then You ” I would die to go to these meetings and see how much the Upper Providence board this doing this crap! It makes me MAD !
July 25th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
A Resident of Upper Providence That is MAD ! says —- My taxes are high enough and i dont want them to be higher! —- What taxes are you talking about?? UP Twp has not had property taxes for about 7 years now.
Since there is no UP property tax, I take it you are talking about the county and school taxes, which I can agree with you on that. But the county and school taxes have nothing to do with this item.
July 25th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Recent article from the Times Herald” about the Oaks Fire Chiefs family member arrested for false 911 calls:
http://www.timesherald.com/articles/2009/05/05/news/doc49ffd4824b21d038502862.txt
Joseph Francis Daywalt, 18, of the 100 block of Butcher Drive, was arraigned before District Court Judge Maurice Saylor of Gilbertsville on charges of false alarms to agencies of public safety and recklessly endangering other persons in connection with eight alleged incidents that occurred between February and April of this year.
Daywalt remains free on $5,000 unsecured bail while awaiting his preliminary hearing at 11 a.m. May 6 before District Court Judge Benjamin R. Crahalla in Lower Providence.
Daywalt, according to Lower Providence police, was a firefighter with the Lower Providence Volunteer Fire Company and the Oaks Fire Company in Upper Providence at the time of the alleged incidents. Both fire companies cooperated with the investigation, police said.
The police investigation determined that Daywalt allegedly placed eight telephone calls to Montgomery County Emergency Dispatch Services, or 911, between Feb. 22 and April 28.
During the calls, various emergency incidents were reported along the Route 422 corridor in Lower and Upper Providence townships that triggered an emergency response from police, fire and other emergency rescue crews, police said.
All of the calls were deemed unfounded, according to police.
Bryan J. McFarland, chief of operations for the Lower Providence Volunteer Fire Company, characterized the calls as “false and malicious in nature.”
“Fortunately, there were no other fire emergencies during the periods that the fire company was in service at these calls and no adverse effect on our community,” McFarland said in a press release.
According to police, a review of 911 data, cell phone records and witness interviews led to Daywalt’s arrest.
“The officers and members of the fire department are saddened and disappointed by these allegations,” McFarland said. “The member involved in this incident will be suspended from all activity involving the Lower Providence Fire Department with further disciplinary action pending due process.”
If the allegations are determined to be factual, McFarland said company officials want to assure residents and businesses that it is an isolated incident “and is in no way indicative of the level of dedication and professionalism” of the fire company’s members
July 25th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
As I read the posts and the “bashing” I really wonder what the fire service is coming to? Here we are, the fire companies that have received funding and equipment from the township respectively. Again as I read, it looks like we, the fire companies members have contacted the “whats the 422.com” people but then declined an interview? was that so some peolpe could hide behind the computer? When the Assist. Twp. Manager commented on the issue it started, the bashings, no where in the article I’ve read, does it say that they are hiring firefighters.
As a VOLUNTEER in this twonship, I cannot believe that this is happening, your right “proud volunteer fireman” it’s not fun any more but is it really because of a fire engine? Oaks is looking to get a new $900,000 tower and when the complaining starts about weather we need it, this is going to start all over again, the bashing. Really how much is a life worth?? is it worth $400,000?, is it worth a $900,000 tower? I would say so. there is no property tax that we pay as stated by “watching from the sideline” and no where does the article say that there will be one, when Mont Clare needed a fire station didn’t the township help them? when Oaks needed to have the tower originally didn’t the township step in and help?
I think this has gone too far and needs to stop, but really when does it stop! This blog is a breading ground for dishonest people who like to start BS. THIS IS NOT THE PLACE Everyone on here has managed(if the names are true ) to make the fire service within our community look like a bunch of (expletive) and yes I said it. I really hope the names aren’t true and that the community can see us as a whole a bunch of people who care about the community we serve regardless of who we represent OAKS, MONT CLARE, TRAPPE, COLLEGEVILLE, FREINDSHIP HUMANE FIRE COMPANIES OR THE TOWNSHIP, because at this point we REALLY DO LOOK LIKE A BUNCH OF (expletive).
Editor’s note: In accordance with our comment policy, two words were edited out of this post.
July 25th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
OK, just to clear up a few over zealous statements being thrown out there. First off, there are plenty of taxes in Upper Providence Township. Sure there are no property taxes. Instead they call it your school tax, which gets taken out of your mortgage payment every month. Additionally, there is a 1% income tax here as well. Then there’s the per capita tax.
So you can ride the “there is no property tax in UPT” train all you want, but you can’t deny that home owners are being taxed. And that’s the crux of this argument. The homeowners don’t want to see any of our tax dollars going to buy a new fire engine, nor a new building for the fire department… nor a new township building with apparently is moving through the planning process fairly quickly. Apparently the three township supervisors have outgrown their current building.
Secondly, the volunteers have every right to complain about this paid fire department…. call it what you want- a paid fire shift perhaps, but it’s the same thing. The volunteer firemen should be upset because money spent on the public works employees to fight fire could have gone to assist the volunteer departments. And that $400K could have been allocated for the much needed replacement for Oaks Fire Co’s tower. If the township doesn’t want to support the volunteer fire companies with financial aid, then give that $400K back to the citizens and let us donate to Oaks for a new tower truck.
July 25th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Those township employees doubling as fireman are dedicated people stepping up to serve the community when the volunteers cant make the call…which i completely understand, they are VOLUNTEERS…their jobs and lives come first, however the fires dont wait until people are done work! i think most of these people complaining on here are upset volunteers that think these township employees are taking their “jobs” however if they cant get there in time and cant get the job done, someone has to, and as for them buying an apparatus, more power to them, i am glad to see that these firemen are on duty during the day to serve the community, and for those who complain about taxes, the citizens of upper prov have it easy compared to some of us, lets slap some property taxes on you… enjoy! we have to pay them… and i garantee that if god forbid your house was burning down you wouldnt be complaining about those township employees rolling up with their 400 thousand dollar truck to put your house out, people disgust me, can you put a price on citizens lives? minutes make a world of difference at a house fire, and the volunteer companys cant get there during the day, and sometimes even at night… for example… its sat night, oaks and mont clare get a call for a water rescue, its 9 pm on sat night and the county had to hit out a response check on oaks fire company because 5 min went by and nobody from oaks was coming to the fire… unacceptable that could mean life or death…..
NEARBY VOLUNTEER ALL FOR SUPPORTING FIGHTING OF FIRE AND PROTECTING LIFE AND PROPERTY, NOT A PISSING MATCH BECAUSE THE VOLLYS ARE UPSET
July 25th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Mr. Reality Check Says:
1st of all There in no need for a 900,00 Tower Ladder in UP. And how would you sugguest the the 400,000 be specnt to assist the volunteers? Maybe they can buy louder pagers so they can here them, maybe that would illiminate responce checks.
July 25th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Mr. Reality Check Says: The homeowners don’t want to see any of our tax dollars going to buy a new fire engine —- I hope Mr. Reality Check remembers his statement next year when Oaks FD ask for a $900,000 ladder truck !!
July 25th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Ok Mr. “Watching from the Sideline” where do you come in this “BUDDY “because you think you know everything and think your the tought guy so please what u have to say about this shit !
July 25th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Well since I seem to be the only resident to give out my personal information so I will clarify.
I have read all posts over the last several days. I am a big supporter of the fire departments. My Father Joseph Flenders, my Mother Margaret, my sister Donna, my brother John were all members of station 80 Upper Gwynedd ( formerly West Point ) in the 1970-80’s. My brother John was an active firefighter and my Father Joe ( deceased ) a member of the Fire Police. My oldest brother Joseph recently became an active member of the Goodwill services. I have good friends serving in Oaks and Trappe, and have met many wonderful people working in the departments. Your dedication and call to duty are impressive to say the least.
The job of the volunteer firefighter is to do just that….volunteer and serve. Sometimes at all cost and laying your lives on the line to protect others. It is a thankless job at times and to add these issues can really bring down your spirits.
The job of the township supervisors is to serve the people of the township that elected them in the most efficient way possible.
They are not to over spend taxpayer dollars and to look for every way possibe, low cost solutions to issues. I applaud the township for training these firefighters to assist during the day when coverage is needed. That is a good thing and smart spending of taxpayer money. You did miss the mark when it came to buying another truck. That is either a power grab or total business mis-management.
I run a company with trucks costing @ $350,000 each. If I have a truck that is not utilized to its fullest potential and need to use a truck in another area guess what I do?…I send that under utilized asset to the location needed. I do not buy another truck. To have all this apparatus ( or assets in the business world ) sitting idle and all someone has to do is pick up the truck and take it to the township building, for the day it is a real no brainer.
Someone needs to be held accountable for this and it is not only the mismanagers of public money but also… ALL OF US!
We ( Me included ) do not attend Township meetings and complain after we find out what is going on. We all need to step up our game and attend these meetings and demand better spending and reporting from our elected officials on ALL levels, township, county, state and federal.
I also wish you would post your name and address as I am doing to let these politicians ( your employees ) know we are watching what they do and will hold them accountable, just as my employer does with me and my $350,000 trucks.
Paul Flenders
439 Mennonite Road
Collegeville, PA
July 26th, 2009 at 12:03 am
Sat night 9:00Pm …station 55,63 a water rescue……………at least 5 minutes passes…….county dispatcher: “station 63 response check?”
….couple more minutes passes and finally a response, wow, i am a firefighter and i would be ashamed to have that on a sat night, no vollys working their jobs, should easily get a truck out on that one…
PROUD TO SUPPORT THE TOWNSHIP FIREMEN AND THEIR TRUCK…
July 26th, 2009 at 12:10 am
A Resident of Upper Providence That is MAD ! Says: Ok Mr. “Watching from the Sideline” where do you come in this “BUDDY “because you think you know everything and think your the tought guy so please what u have to say about this shit !
As I said in my first post: I read the comments on this discussion with interest, and a lot of laughter!!
July 26th, 2009 at 12:59 am
uh oh volly Says: Recent article from the Times Herald” about the Oaks Fire Chiefs family member arrested for false 911 calls
— uh oh volly — I think you are a little out of line here by posting that statement.
First, there was no mention in the article of the suspect being related to the fire chief.
Second, it was not his son or immediate family member living in his residence that he would have control over
Third, it is LOW AND WRONG to bring that into this topic. That Times Herald article has nothing to do with the subject of this discussion. Leave family members out of this. You are as low as the democrats talking about Sarah Palin’s daughters pregnancy during the election.
July 26th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Where are the other comments at?
July 26th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
After all of the arguments…Who wins???
It fact, right now in Upper Providence Township everyone wins….
The Township wins by:
Township provides required fire protection services at a significant cost savings to the residents by utilizing services of volunteers who give their time for free therefore the township saves large amounts of money.
Some of the cost savings include: Wages, Benefits, Overtime, Training, & Equipment.
Additional protection demonstrates increased & positive changes for resident safety.
By not having labor relations concerns that come with providing a career fire service.
The Residents win by:
Having an increased level of fire protection with township employees responding to emergencies.
Having a fully equipped fire truck that allows the township employees to respond directly to the emergency, and go into service without having to potentially wait for a fire truck to arrive at the emergency.
Taxes are much lower than they would be by having a career fire department saving property owners significant amounts of money.
Having a community organization where people can spend time helping their neighbors, including young adults who need to have a place to spend their time in a constructive way.
Potential improvement to ISO rating thereby decreasing homeowner’s insurance with addition of township employee fire apparatus. The purchase of the new fire engine may directly impact the ISO rating as determined by the ISO’s rating system:
-Engine companies
Fifty percent of the overall grading is based on the number of engine companies and the amount of water a community needs to fight a fire. ISO reviews the distribution of fire companies throughout the area and checks that the fire department tests its pumps regularly and inventories each engine company’s nozzles, hoses, breathing apparatus, and other equipment.
ISO also reviews the fire-company records to determine:
• type and extent of training provided to fire-company personnel
• number of people who participate in training
• firefighter response to emergencies
• maintenance and testing of the fire department’s equipment
The Fire Companies win by:
They have the ability to be the “unpaid professionals” that will have a positive impact on the community in which they reside.
Continuing a long standing sense of pride & tradition locally in the fire stations they represent, and having the public recognize them as the people who care and perform a needed service.
Township paying important costs of operation such as workman’s compensation insurance & fuel.
Receiving township assistance for large capital expenses such as fire trucks and firehouse expenditures, therefore reducing the amount of time volunteers have to spend away from their families performing fundraising duties.
Having a place to build close friendships and a level of camaraderie that is difficult to develop anywhere else.
While everyone is a stakeholder here and I understand everyone’s concern, this debate may have evolved into something it may not need to be. Please apply the brakes now, because this may get worse for everyone before it gets any better.
Question: If your house or business is on fire or your family member needs to be rescued…would you really care who comes from what station, or whether if they are career or volunteer, as long as they are professional, and have the equipment necessary to get the job done.
July 26th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
It’s truly sad that so many people are really missing the point of frustraition here. The complaints that we residents of Upper Providence have about this new engine have nothing to do with actually buying a fire truck. It has everything to do with buying a fire truck for the township public works employees when we already have 6 volunteer fire companies in the area… and all those companies are always in need of assistance.
I’m not saying that the township has to give any money to any fire company… but stop spending all of our tax dollars away on unecessary expenditures. Maybe we should equip the public works employees with guns, tazers, handcuffs and police cars. After all, if you want to use the “can’t put a price on human life” argument, then by all means we should be tasking them out a back up police.
- “I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.” – Thomas Jefferson
July 27th, 2009 at 8:39 am
I have read all of the comments and if anyone is failiar with the Montgomery Township removing its fire company to form another newly built organization. They will see some very same things happening, except these are not behind the closed doors instead theyare right in front of the volunteers. the writing is on the walls for them and they know it. Instead of coming on here and bashing one another over who got what, the entire group (all 6 companies) need to ban together and go to the township to show that they are upset with the actions. it is very apparent that the Fire Marshalls are not supporting the FD like they should. Instead of making township employees run all over in township vehciles to get a township fire truck out, why not take the money spent on training them, the bonus that each recieve over their normal pay and that $400,000 and put two firefighters in each station or one station. Witht the money that the township is putting out for these guys, it is not reducing the reponse times much if at all in some of the areas. Just the other day there was a call at my neighbors house near Royersford and it was way late that the township fire crew showed up. Where was time saved there? If the problem is with the two organizationn located in Upper Prov. and not the outalying companies, then correct that and not screw the others that are doing their job. There was also an incident where that township crew was using Oaks’ Engine to respond to a fire in Trappe. They were not needed, but and did not return immediately because they had the FM on board. So now you are paying roads crews to follow the FM so he can do his job. This is more misuse of Township money to pay the road crew to sit while the Fm does his job.
Trappe, Royersford, Collegeville, Oaks, and Mont Clare…..it is time to put aside differences and ban together to fight these clowns in the FM department. They should be investigators liek they are paid to be, not firefighters.
July 27th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
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July 28th, 2009 at 2:40 am
FIRST OF ALL THE TWP NEEDS TOO GET WATER LINES TO THIS PART OF TWP!!!!ITS TIME TO DO THAT AN NOT to buy FIRETRUCKS AT MAD AMOUNTS OF $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!!!!!!!! THE SUPERVISERS BETTER GET THEIR HEAD FROM THE HOLE BEFORE THE DIRT CUTS THE AIR FROM THEIR HEADS!!!!! IT IS 2009 NOT 1900 !!!! AN STOP WORRING ABOUT SHOPPING CENTERS AN DOUGH CUTTER DELEVLOPEMENTS!!!! AN REMBER THE RESDENTS!! AN THEY 4got!!! AN THEY NEED TO BE REMINDED OF THAT!!!! AS A LIFELONG RESIDENT THAT IS ALWAYS THE CASE WITH THE SUPERVISORS !!!! THE RESIDENTS RUN THE TWP!!!! an this is a power grab as i see it an a business grab also!!! EVERYTIME WHEN THIER IS A FIRE IN MY END OF TWP IT IS A 3 RING CHINESE CICURS ANYWAY!!!AN THE CLOSEST FIRE CO SHOULD BE CALLED TOO AN THAT IS NOT THE CASE EITHER!!!! ITS TIME 4 A REALITY CHECK THEM ALL AN THIS CAN BE A TEACHABLE MOMENT!!!! FIRE THESE GUYS!!!!! THE RESIDENTS COME 1ST!!!!!
August 3rd, 2009 at 11:16 am
“Mr. Reality Check”……THANK YOU!!! Someone who finally gets it! And I like the comparison with backing up the police department next. Interesting analogy.
And “Where is Waldo” brings up a good point that we are paying employees to sit and watch the fire marshall work. Is that a good use of Township money?
August 6th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Gee, after all that hooping and yelling and complaining, no one showed up at the Twp Meeting anyhow?? A lot of pushers but no shovers!!
August 9th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
“Watching”…yes, unfortunately life got in the way and I wasn’t able to attend. But I’ll be at the next one…oh, wait, they already cancelled that one. Guess I’ll have to wait until September!!
September 17th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
BOY, THINGS SURE GOT QUIET HERE REAL FAST.
I GUESS WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT TIL NEXT YEAR WHEN OAKS FIRE COMPANY ASK THE SUPERVIORS FOR A $900,000 LADDER TRUCK. OH, THAT’S RIGHT, THAT’S DIFFERENT.
WHY A QUINT?? YOU GOT PUMPERS TO DO THE WATER JOB. NOW I HEAR THEY WANT FOAM ON THE LADDER TRUCK????????????????
September 25th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Sideline,
What is your beef with the Oaks Fire Company? You are even commenting about them on totally unrelated threads. Did they wrong you in some way? Did they not help you in a time of need? It sounds to me like you are jeolous that the township funds won’t be going to your company. Where do you get your information anyway? You need to get a new source because yours isn’t a very good one.
November 4th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Ok, just a really quick comment, if the township now has their own engine, then why do I see Oaks and Mont Clare’s engines up at the township building every week?
Why did they blow $400K on an egine if they are going to be “borrowing” Oaks and Mont Clare’s engines on a weekly basis?
Hmmmmmm…..?!
November 5th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Here’s a question…..
Why in the world would a township spend 400K on a fire engine when only 3% of all emergency calls are for fires AND you have multiple surrounding fire departments alreday established and responding?
Since the other 97% of the calls are for an ambulance, how about spending that money on supporting the local ambulance squads before they all go under?
This just shows, once again, that we as a society care more about our stuff (cars, buildings etc.) than we care about our citizens.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Hold Up – For the record, that was not a comment…it was two questions.
And now to answer your questions, they are still waiting for the child safety seats to be installed in their new Engine so that it will match the other township purchased fire / personal family use vehicles.
December 22nd, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Thanks for posting this article. I’m decidedly frustrated with struggling to search out germane and sound commentary on this matter. Everybody now goes to the very far extremes to either drive home their viewpoint that either: everyone else in the planet is wrong, or two that everyone but them does not really understand the situation. Many thanks for your concise, relevant insight.
December 29th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Well, not even a year into it and I see the Upper Providence Fire Crew makes it out almost every day on calls, sometimes 2 or 3 times a day. The best part is the Upper Providence truck has 4 to 6 firefighters on it when the other fire trucks get one or two firefighters.
Where is that counter from previous post?? If you are counting now, you will see most of the time the Upper Providence truck arrives first.
And guess what, the homeowners still don’t care who’s fire truck gets there first, they are just thanksful fire trucks are getting there.
A great move by the Upper Providence Supervisors. And guess what — There is still no property tax in Upper Providence, so your taxes didn’t go UP!!
January 1st, 2010 at 2:47 am
Don’t kid yourself buddy. There are many times when it goes out with only 2 or 3. But wait, sometimes someone will chase the engine with an Explorer. Taxpayers be ready, it looks good now, but wait til they run all the real (non salary)volunteers out and they have to pay for 24/7 coverage. My a$$ hurts from all the smoke you are blowing up it. This is all being done to feed a few people’s egos. What will UPT do when these guys fail, piss the volunteers off, quit, and move on to another job? I guess it will be the residents/taxpayers problem then. You won’t care though because you can just walk away because you apparently aren’t a volunteer in the township. If you were you wouldn’t be such a proponent of this. FC??? Happy New Year.
January 4th, 2010 at 9:57 pm
Well, maybe I am looking at it as – A fire truck gets to the scene and there is enough manpower to handle the call. So far the Twp. Truck has not cost the local fire companies anything. The volunteer companies still respond same as always, they respond to the same calls as they always have. The Twp truck has not cut out any of the volunteer calls, duties, services, or territory. It’s an extra truck getting out to serve the residence of the twp. It’s still the volunteer companies fire call.
I did my time as a volunteer firefighter in years past. It’s a younger mans job and I am past young. It would have been nice to have something like this in place to assist the volunteer companies I served with. I’ve seen and know some of the problems of the volunteer fire companies, past and present. So don’t go there with me. I have a lot more years than you.
Manpower was a little better back then but there were many daytimes we were lucky to get a truck out. It would have been nice to have a second truck to assist. Even if it was only 40 hours a week.
I guess it’s all in the mindset, sitting back and looking at the overall picture, past, present and future. There will always be the volunteer fire companies out there. Most have been for 100 or more years. Unless you know something I don’t, were the local fire companies are closing or being run out of town?
Yes, if the twp was to say they were going to all paid firefighters, then I too would have a big problem with that. I would say no to that. I would be right beside you on that one.
But when they are simply trying to help the volunteers during daytime when manpower is short, not taking over territories, calls, or companies, then I can not see why any volunteer fire company would get so upset at getting help during the times when they are hurting for manpower and getting a truck out.
Ok, even if the truck only goes out with 2 or 3 fire fighters like you said, hey, a truck and man power is getting there. Thats 1 more truck and 2 or 3 more firefighters in the eyes of the residents.
January 25th, 2010 at 11:56 am
Where was the township truck today for the reported fire in the Town Center shopping center? Where are the fire marshalls to handle the neighbor complaints after normal business hours?
March 10th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
How great is this… the assistant FM and a contractor that works for the township both being appointed as “citizen” members of the fire and emergency services board… what a joke