Study Calls For Improved ‘Trust & Communication’ Between Middletown & Fire Companies

A municipality-wide fire services study in Middletown Township has found that there is a “lack of trust and communication” between the municipality and its volunteer fire companies.

The Middletown Township Board of Supervisors and four volunteer fire companies – Langhorne-Middletown, Parkland, Penndel, and William Penn – were recently briefed on the results and recommendations of the study that was conducted over the past several months by Dynamix Consulting Group.

The consultants recently updated the public and the township released the report that showcased strengths in the township’s paid and volunteer fire service, pointed out where improvement is needed, and reflected hard truths.

“Dedicated people make up the fire services in Middletown Township, both volunteer and paid, who provide a critical service to the community,” the report read.

“Dynamix Consulting Group finds the fire service in Middletown as a whole is in the midst of an identity crisis while simultaneously suffering from strained relationships resulting from a lack of communication, which in turn has created a system-wide lack of trust,” the study bluntly stated.

In recent interviews and statements, township officials and representatives of the fire service have said both the sides plan to work together to fix the relationship for the sake of the more than 16,800 households and 45,900 residents they serve.

The report comes after internal problems led to the departure of the township fire marshal who served as head of its small but busy paid fire crew and as the volunteer organizations forge a path forward during a nationwide shortage of firefighters.

Amid the report being released, the township is embarking on the search for a new fire marshal and leader for its paid fire crew. The crews’ operations are currently being overseen on a temporary basis by Don Harris, the former Newtown Township fire marshal and a longtime area fire official.

The consultants said that through in-person meetings and through an anonymous survey they discovered the lack of trust and communications as “major threats to the future success of the fire services.”

“There is, however, a widespread feeling among both the volunteer firefighters and paid fire code inspectors that the fire services in Middletown Township requires an immediate intervention. Years of strained relationships resulting from poor communication have left both the volunteer firefighters and paid fire code inspectors tired. Dynamix Consulting Group heard in each of the four volunteer company meetings, as well as at the paid Fire Code Inspectors meeting, members share that they were actively considering quitting the fire services in Middletown Township because they did not want to deal with the fire service drama anymore. Dynamix Consulting Group repeatedly heard from individuals at every meeting that they considered this Fire Services Study to be the ‘last chance’ to fix the fire services in Middletown Township before more people quit and the volunteer fire companies became unsustainable,” the report said.

The report stated the strained relationship is between the volunteer fire companies and the township and not among the volunteer agencies. There was not one point of causation noted for the strained relationship.

“There’s a sense of mistrust …. until you can really develop a strong communication plan and get everyone on the same page, it’s going to be a struggle,” said Mary-Ellen Harper, of Dynamic Consulting Group.

While the report noted the volunteer groups are up to the challenge of increased call volume and a decrease in volunteers, they will need more support from the township.

The report pointed out the bulk of all of the township’s general fund fire protection funds go toward the fire marshal’s office, which runs the paid fire crew and handles fire investigations and safety inspections. The department has gone from three full-time employees and five-part employees to six full-time workers and 12 per diem staffers since the daytime fire suppression response service began.

The township typically contributes about $1.1 million a year to be split between the four volunteer fire companies, according to the report.

The report showed the busiest zones for fire calls were in the largest residential and business sections of the township.

Nearly all of the township fell within five miles of a fire station, which is recommended by national standards. The entire township had firefighter travel times between four to eight minutes, according to the report.

The consultants found that the majority of vehicles used by the fire service are well maintained and in good condition. It recommended a township-wide review of apparatus and exploration of the idea of eliminating vehicles that do not see regular use and have no necessary need.

The report called for the township to create a funded apparatus replacement plan, which has been missing from Middletown Township since 2012.

The report suggested the township’s paid fire crew look at options for getting their own engine truck through a variety of options instead of renting one from the Penndel Fire Company. The recommendation was based on the heavy use of the truck.

The township fire companies’ buildings were rated as being in fair to excellent condition by the consultants.

The report recommended a reorganization of the Middletown Township Department of Fire and Emergency Services, efforts to involve volunteers in more steps of the pre-planning process, implementation of a new records management system, updates to policies, establishment a yearly medical evaluation program to keep firefighters healthy, a program to reduce resource-wasting false alarm calls, improvements to data collection, development of a township-wide training program for paid and volunteer firefighters, a full inventory of equipment, and audits of volunteer fire companies.

The report recommended a combined model for Middletown Township that uses paid crews and volunteer fire companies. The system would have the volunteer and paid crews working together in a more integrated system, as opposed to dual system where there is little cooperation and integration.

The report warns that if things stay as they are the township could face a major problem with having to switch to a round-the-clock staffing model, similar to how the police department operates, and there would be a large cost to taxpayers.

Supervisor Chairperson Tom Tosti said the township has begun working to rebuilt trust with the volunteer fire companies.

“I’m looking forward to working with them to try to implement this,” he said.

A similar study was done in the 1970s and actions were not taken, but Tosti said that will not be the case this time.

Township Manager Stephanie Teoli Kuhls said recently that she is “optimistic” the study will help keep the fire response in the township strong.

“We continue to professionalize the organization and set the bar higher,” she said of the paid crews, who work during the daytime hours when volunteer firefighters are often busy at work.

The fire companies have told the township they want to digest the 150-page report as they look toward the future.

“We are looking forward to working with the other companies and the township on improving services for the township residents,” William Penn Fire Company Chief Andy Conaway said.

“We appreciate the township funding this study,” said Langhorne-Middletown Fire Company Chief Frank Farry. “The report has brought to light significant  issues that we have been raising for years. Our hope is that this will create a pathway forward so our volunteer firefighters can go back to focusing solely on serving our community and not be so burdened with township drama. The removal of the fire marshal was an necessary first step.”

Parkland Fire Company Chief T.J. Stressman said his organization was supportive of the fire study and looks forward to working with the township and surrounding fire companies.

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