The Upper Providence Township Department of Fire and Emergency Services has grown as the needs of the township have expanded with development in the area. With proper planning, the DFES will continue to serve the Township well into the future.
The Upper Providence Township Department of Fire and Emergency Services has grown as the needs of the township have expanded with development in the area. With proper planning, the DFES will continue to serve the Township well into the future. In 2007 the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) was established and was originally comprised of volunteers, along with trained public works employees and members of the planning and zoning departments.
To assist in facing the rapid decline in volunteer recruitments, and to keep up with population growth, the Upper Providence Board of Supervisors worked with the Planning Commission and voted proactively to add paid positions to the department beginning in 2014. Tom Dimmerling, Deputy Chief/Fire Marshal, was the first paid fire fighter. In 2015 the department grew to 3 full-time employees with part-time firefighters hired to supplement. The engine was staffed 7:30am- 5:30pm. Upper Providence Township then purchased their first engine, manned by township employees.
Within the Township there were volunteer fire companies that helped serve the residents and businesses and also supplemented the needs of the township. These include Black Rock Volunteer Fire Company, Trappe Fire Company, Royersford Fire Department, Collegeville Fire Company. In addition, there are 3 supporting Emergency and Medical Services agencies supporting the township: Friendship Ambulance, Lower Providence EMS and Freedom Valley Medical Rescue.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and across the nation have seen a major decline in Fire and emergency services recruitment. Across Pennsylvania, volunteer fire companies are feeling the pressure of not having enough help. A shortage of volunteers is having a direct impact on response times throughout the state. Without enough volunteers or paid employees, fire companies need to travel further to meet the demands of emergencies.
Since the 1970s, the number of volunteer fire fighters has dropped an estimated 90%. In 2016, the state passed Act 172. Act 172 authorizes municipalities to offer tax credits against the earned income and real estate tax liability of certified fire companies and nonprofit emergency medical services agency (EMS) volunteers. The purpose of the law is to incentivize current fire and EMS volunteers to remain active and increase recruitment of new volunteers.
Today, the UPT DFES is staffed full-time and provides 24/7 coverage to their residents. In the 18 square mile township of Upper Providence, the UPT FD has a response time of under 6 minutes for their residents and businesses.
To learn more about the Upper Providence Township Department of Fire and Emergency services, visit their website at Fire and Emergency Services | Upper Providence Township, PA.