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. A fire engine was purchased in 2008 for use by these employee volunteers.
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. In 2015 the first two full-time firefighters were hired who, along with the fire marshal and deputy fire marshal, staffed a fire engine from 7:30am- 5:30pm.
Subsequent years saw the addition of part-time firefighters and the expansion of coverage hours to 12 hours per day, 7 days per week. In 2022, additional full-time firefighters were hired and the DFES fire station opened on Black Rock Road. The new facility includes dormitory rooms, showers, and other accommodations necessary to support a 24-hour operation. Starting in August, 2022, the DFES firefighters began providing around the clock coverage for fire and EMS incidents within Upper Providence Township.
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.
We continue to partner with our local volunteer fire companies that serve the residents and businesses of the township. These include Black Rock Volunteer Fire Company, Trappe Fire Company, Royersford Fire Department, and Collegeville Fire Company. In addition, there are 3 Emergency Medical Services agencies supporting the township: Friendship Ambulance, Lower Providence EMS and Freedom Valley Medical Rescue. Beginning in 2022 and continuing today, Friendship Ambulance bases an Advanced Life Support Ambulance out of the DFES fire station. This ambulance provides coverage to the majority of Upper Providence with outlying areas being handled by our other partner agencies due to proximity.
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%. The UPT DFES continues to evolve to meet the challenges of today and to continue to serve residents into the future.