Credit: Elisa Baxt/LevittownNow.com
Bristol Township has increased pay for their career firefighters.
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Last month, Bristol Township Council voted to increase the pay rate for the firefighters, who also serve as fire inspectors and medics, on a tiered system based on years of service and certification obtained, Township Manager Randee Elton said.
The cost to increase salaries for the firefighters, which staff an engine truck during the daytime hours, will total $81,830 in the first year.
On the cost of the pay increase, Elton said: “Bristol Township is fortunate to be in a sound financial position to afford this unbudgeted increase mid-year.”
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Fire Marshal Kevin Dippolito, who oversees Bristol Township Fire Rescue and the township’s emergency management operations, said the pay raise will help with retention. Due to his crew’s level of training, his employees are often hired away by other municipalities in the region.
Elton said the township was in jeopardy of losing three firefighters without the pay increase.
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“They never ask anything and do everything on their own. They’re really great guys,” she said.
Bristol Township, according to the manager, lagged behind surrounding township’s in fire crew pay.
The firefighters do more than just fight flames. The crew assist with numerous tasks other town’s firefighters aren’t assigned to cover, including 18,000 fire inspections and 4,000 apartment inspections.
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Elton said the crew brings in nearly $750,000 in revenue from inspections.
Bristol Township’s fire service is largely staffed by volunteers, but the township crew supplements volunteers during the daytime hours. The paid staff and volunteers have integrated since the career service started 12 years ago.
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Bristol Township Council President Craig Bowen thanked the firefighters and noted their worth, adding they saved his business several years ago during a fire.
Bensalem Township, Middletown Township, Newtown Township, and Northampton Township are nearby towns that also have paid daytime fire crews.
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