Bristol Twp. Planning New Fire Station For Volunteers, Career Staff

Bristol Township officials plan to open a fire station along Bath Road that will house the fire marshal’s office, the daytime fire response crew known as Bristol Township Fire Rescue, and at least one volunteer fire company.

The township has design work underway to convert the former Inspire Federal Credit Union building in the 2100 block of Bath Road into the fire station.

The township purchased the property in 2019 as they built their community park around the site. Talks on what to do with the property have been underway since that time.

Following the recommendations of a state report to consolidate fire stations, the township explored numerous options for a new fire station building.

The fire marshal’s office, emergency operations center, and paid fire crew, who currently work out of an administrative building and a pole barn from 1996 behind the township building, would be joined in the proposed new station by the Third District Fire Company, which would move from their nearby building on Harrison Street.

Early ideas for the site looked at putting the fire marshal’s office, paid fire crew, the Third District Fire Company, Newportville Fire Company, and Bucks County Rescue Squad, which are presently all located not too far from one another, in the building.

As of Wednesday, only the Third District Fire Company and the paid crew will be joining the fire marshal’s office in the building.

Over the past two years, the township explored ripping down the former credit union building and constructing a completely new structure. However, plans shifted to renovating the structure and adding a pre-fabricated section for fire truck bays, Township Manager Randee Elton said.

No cost has been finalized for the new fire station, but increases in construction costs have played a factor in the design work, Elton said.

The 2020 a state fire study done for the township recommended the Newportville and Third District fire companies look at merging organizations and facilities.

While the Newportville and Third District fire companies have had talks up until recently, a merger has not been finalized and the status of those talks appeared unknown as of Wednesday, sources with knowledge of the township fire service said.

The township manager explained there would be room in the new fire station for the two volunteer companies and the paid staff under one roof.

The offer provided to the volunteers by the township charges no rent or buy-in cost and only asks them to split utilities with the municipality for the new fire station.

Elton said there is no pressure on the fire companies to merge by the township or move into the combined station.

“They are free to do what they want,” she said.

Rumors that the Newportville Fire Company would be disbanded by the township if they didn’t merge with the Third District Fire Company or use the new township fire station were untrue, Elton said.

“First I’m hearing of it,” she told LevittownNow.com of the rumors.

Third District Fire Company Chief Howard McGoldrick said his company is looking forward to moving from their circa-1964 station into a new building. He said the new building will be more efficient and meet modern standards.

Data from the state fire study showed the Third District Fire Company owns their building outright.

McGoldrick said the fire company is still evaluating what to do once their current building is vacant.

A church presently rents space in the rear of the building and a cell phone tower is on the property, bringing income to support the fire company.

The Newportville Fire Company currently operates two fire stations – one from 1973 on New Falls Road and one from 2012 on Bath Road. The state fire report found both stations do not have outstanding debt.

An official from the Newportville Fire Company did not respond calls for comment.

Volunteer fire companies in Bristol Township and across the country are dealing with shrinking volunteer bases and increasing costs related to operations.

In 2010, the township started their Bristol Township Fire Rescue response team to supplement volunteer fire companies during the daytime hours. The crew operates under the command of Fire Marshal Kevin Dippolito and operate an engine truck.

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