Firefighters In Berwyn And Paoli Sound Funding Alarm

TREDYFFRIN, PA —Tredyffrin and Easttown supervisors Wednesday night took preliminary steps to deal with local fire companies and emergency medical responders being stretched thin by a combination of increased call volume and declining numbers of volunteers.

The two boards, following a joint special meeting, voted unanimously to authorize solicitors to prepare an inter-municipality agreement between the townships related to fire and EMS service in the adjoining townships.

The problem was brought to light as nearly 100 first responders, victims and others packed a hearing before both boards in a Tredyffrin meeting room. Another 78 participated virtually.

Berwyn and Paoli fire companies, with the assistance of Radnor Fire Company, serve the 29.9 square miles of the two municipalities.

Consultant Dr. Robert C. Andrews, Jr., of Protection Development, Inc., San Antonio, Texas, provided a presentation on the first phase of the project, which is a report detailing the magnitude of the problem confronting the two municipalities.

“Volunteers are going away, and the calls are increasing,” Andrews said. “The current level of funding is not sustainable."

Andrews said the entire state of Pennsylvania is under the same stress due to the historical reliance on volunteer firefighters.

The presentation Wednesday night focused on the problem.

The solution, he said, is to provide career staff 24/7, 365 days a year.

At the end of the meeting, the supervisors agreed to hire Anderson for $65,000 to prepare a report on a full-time career fire and EMS system for the townships.

Holly Herman/Patch Staff

Seth Sirover thanks Eamon Brazunas, Berwyn's assistant fire chief, for saving his life.

Saving lives

Several victims spoke about how the first responders saved their lives.
Seth Sirover, a Chesterbrook resident, thanked the Berwyn Fire Company and Assistant Chief Eamon Brazunas for saving his life. Brazunas is also the Phoenixville Fire Chief.
"They did an excellent job,” he said, as the spectators applauded.
After the meeting, Sirover recalled it was Father’s Day in 2020 when he was out teaching his sons how to ride a bike.
“I ran home and passed out,” he said. “Eamon saw me. Six people showed up from the department. They saved my life."

Another victim, Sara Gladney, said she experienced a fire in her home when she was 15 years old, and the Berwyn firefighters discovered the fire and put it out. She later purchased the home.
“I owe so much to the fire department for risking their lives,” she said. “I joined the fire company. I feel indebted to them.”
Gladney said she helps with fundraising.
“I am crying on the inside because of the lack of sustainability,” she said.

Supervisors react

The township supervisors said they are aware of the problem and vowed to rectify it.
“The government is going to do something to rectify this problem,” Dave Miller, Tredyffrin supervisor, said. "It’s going to get resolved.”
Miller said that the service is exceptional considering the conditions the fire responders have to work with.
“We are acutely aware of the need for sustainability,” Murph Wysocki, Tredyffrin Supervisor echoed.

The problem

Andrews provided a detailed report, starting with the history of firefighting in Pennsylvania.
The first volunteer fire company was founded in 1736 by Ben Franklin.
He said the volunteer fire department is still prevalent in the Philadelphia region, but not in other states.
The Berwyn Fire Company was formed in 1894 in Easttown, and the Paoli Fire Company was formed in 1909 in Tredyffrin.
He said Tredyffrin/Easttown has developed a system with firefighters and emergency responders being cross-trained.
The primary problem, he said, is the number of volunteers is decreasing while the call volume increasing.
The fire companies average about 16 calls per day.
In 2022, the two fire companies responded to a total of 5,953 calls, including 1,475 fire and 4,478 emergency calls.

Here is the staffing level to date:

Paoli Fire Company

• 8 full-time
• 19 part-time
• Shifts 12 hours, 24 hours

Berwyn Fire Company

• 10 full-time
• 37 part-time, with six working full-time shifts
• Some 12-hour shifts, 24 hours

Here is the funding breakdown

Berwyn Fire Company

Total budget: $2.4 million

• Township funding: 39.37 percent, amounting to $970,300
• Billing income: 37.8 percent, $933,200
• Fundraising: $197,000
• Other income: $164,189

Paoli Fire Company

Total budget: $1.5 million

• Township funding: 37.98 percent, amounting to $572,800
• Ambulance income: 34.33 percent, amounting to $521,000
• Membership: 9.28 percent, amounting to $140,000
• Other income: $274,250

Anderson’s report also provided a review of the fire facilities.

• 1485 Valley Forge Road: purchased in 2022 by Tredyffrin Township for $1.8 million. Provides the best opportunity for expansion, according to the report.
• Berwyn Station: overdue replacement; bids received, design suitable.
• Paoli Fire Company: building addition needed for sleeping rooms, and support for career staff.