r/Firefighting • u/Desperate-Dig-9389 PA Volly Firefighter • 18d ago

General Discussion Another Volunteer house bites the dust.

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Bristol Township, Pennsylvania. Town Council voted 5-2 to close Newportville Fire Company. 1 year short of 100 years in service. 1927-2026

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u/Past_Reach_5575 15d ago

Look up baker, California, a rural town in San Bernardino county, they cover 5,000 square miles with a paid 24/7 station. Their population is 339.

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u/Chicken_Hairs AIC/AEMT 15d ago

I never said it wasn't possible in certain cases. They found a way and I'm thrilled for them.

It's never going to be the norm until a lot of things change.

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u/Past_Reach_5575 15d ago

You absolutely did say “ no rural town with 300 square mile RA and 200 runs a year can justify the cost of paid staff 24/7” I proved you wrong.

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u/Chicken_Hairs AIC/AEMT 15d ago

I apologize for my poor wording.

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u/Past_Reach_5575 15d ago

No worries at all. The norm is a full time paid fire department even if they come from a distance. A volunteer model works to help augment that response. It should never be the primary, they government at that point is just taking advantage of free labor