Newportville Fire Company Defends Department Ahead Of Council Vote

The number of volunteer fire companies serving Bristol Township could soon drop from five to four as township council prepares to vote on removing the Newportville Fire Company from the municipality’s coverage plan.

Ahead of the vote, Newportville leadership hosted a town hall meeting Wednesday evening that lasted just over an hour and a half to address the planned vote, which could force the 99-year-old organization to cease operating as an emergency response entity.

The prospective shutdown stems from past mismanagement, financial issues, accountability concerns, and the arrest of a former chief accused of misappropriating funds.

Fire company officials say they have corrected their problems and are showing improvement.

Fire company management told council last month that they are complying with directives from township officials, submitting a written recovery plan, and applying for a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recruitment grant.

Fire Chief Ryan Cummings and Battalion Chief Dawn Cummings led the discussion and stressed their message was not intended to attack municipal leadership or assign blame.

“Nothing we say tonight is intended as personal attacks,” Chief Cummings said early in the meeting. “We may challenge the information being used, but that does not mean that we are questioning anyone’s character or intentions.”

Newportville officials addressed points raised by township officials, including questions regarding Newportville’s reported 25,000 volunteer hours, a figure they say is higher than neighboring departments.

Fire company officials defended the number as proof of volunteer dedication rather than idle time.

They also warned that shutting down the company would not guarantee its volunteers would transfer to other local departments.

“How would removing the station improve public safety?” Chief Cummings asked.

Battalion Chief Cummings questioned whether the remaining volunteer companies could handle the workload.

“The question should be, ‘Can four fire companies provide effective, efficient, safe fire protection to the entire township?’” she said.

Addressing a potential consolidation, Battalion Chief Cummings stressed that moving two fire companies together requires teamwork.

From July: Standoff Between Bristol Twp. & Newportville Fire Company Continues

There was talk of a potential merger with the Third District Fire Company several years ago, but a deal never materialized.

“A successful consolidation requires communication,” Battalion Chief Cummings said. “It requires cooperation, compromise, mutual respect and proper planning.”

Attendees at the meeting at the Newportville station on New Falls Road voiced support for the department.

“Thank you so much to all of you that volunteer for the community,” one woman said.

Multiple attendees expressed frustration over the absence of public officials and the lack of firefighters from neighboring departments.

Residents in attendance indicated they wanted a clearer explanation for the township’s direction and a plan for how coverage would be handled if the station is removed from responses.

If the ordinance passes, Newportville’s municipal funding will be reallocated to the township’s four remaining volunteer departments: Croydon, Edgely, Levittown No. 2, and Third District.

Township officials have stated that emergency coverage will remain uninterrupted. They noted there are four volunteer companies and the career staff of Bristol Township Fire Rescue.

The Bristol Township Council is scheduled to vote on the ordinance Thursday, Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Bristol Township Administration Building. Newportville officials asked supporters to attend and stated that a petition was available for residents to sign.

Publisher Tom Sofield contributed to this article.