Bristol To Apply For $1.5 Million Grant For New Fire Station

Bristol Borough Council unanimously approved a resolution on Monday to apply for a $1.5 million state grant.

The grant from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program of Pennsylvania would be intended to help fund construction of a facility that will house merged operations of the borough’s volunteer fire companies. These companies include the Bristol Fire Company, America Hose, Hook and Ladder Fire Company, Goodwill Hose Company, and Bristol Consolidated Volunteer Fire Company.

If the borough is awarded the funding, it would marking a step towards building a new, centralized fire station.

Council President Ralph DiGuiseppe acknowledged the grant’s importance and that it would not cover the entire cost of the new station.

“We know this is not enough, but this is going to put a dent in what we’re doing,” DiGuiseppe said.

Fire Chief Herb Slack noted that while planning for the future of the fire companies is ongoing, the fire service greatly appreciate the borough’s initiative.

“We thank the council and the mayor,” Slack said.

A location for a new fire station has not been announced or proposed. A cost estimate also hasn’t been presented.

The proposal for a new fire station follows a 2021 study by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development report on the fire companies in the borough. The study recommended a revamp of the borough’s fire code, the creation of a merged fire association, and the consolidation of fire services into a single, centrally located station.

According to the report, the riverfront borough would be best served by two engines, one ladder, and one rescue truck.

As of now, no official merger has occurred among the fire companies, but DiGuiseppe said the companies are “leaning toward a merger.”

Last June, officials from the fire companies outlined their vision for the future. The plan includes improved staffing, a strategic plan for all companies, fiscal responsibility, sustainability in staffing, standard training, and the establishment of a central station for operations.

In other business on Monday evening, the borough council approved a resolution to apply for a $1.75 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant from the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget. The funds are intended to support improvements to mitigate flooding in Adams Hollow Creek.

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