Horsham Fire Company Equipment Costs 'Skyrocketing'

HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA —The Horsham Township Fire Company faces a lot of similar issues as other fire companies across Montgomery County, the region, and the nation: rising costs.

Horsham Fire Co. Chief Lee Greenberg provided his annual report to the Horsham Township Council at a recent meeting, saying that the fire company has experienced rising costs for equipment and for paid firefighters and paramedics.

Buying a fire truck or ambulance has become extremely costly, Greenberg told the council during his report.

Greenberg said he was able to save the township $300,000 on a new fire engine.

The fire chief told the council that a fire equipment company informed him that a Pierce fire engine was in production and could be had for under $1 million if the fire company contracted for its purchase.

"We were able to get a new engine for a little over $700,000," the fire chief said. "It's a no-frills truck."

He said the new fire engine should arrive in April.

Meanwhile, the fire company has also purchased a new ambulance, which won't be coming until sometime next year, Greenberg said.

"The cost of replacing ambulances has skyrocketed," he said. "A few years ago, ambulances could be purchased for about $160,000. Prices have since doubled."

He said the fire company had purchased two used ambulances to get them over the hump several years back. The chief added that ambulances are two years out for build and that the replacement should arrive in early 2025.

The company responded to 477 fire calls and 2,503 total EMS dispatches, he said.

Greenberg said the fire company has 20 active members and two junior members who are still in high school.

He said years ago, the fire company volunteers were supplemented by paid staffers. Now those paid staffers are supplemented by volunteers. Greenberg added that the trend will continue.

All living quarters in the 20-year-old fire station were painted. The fire company also rolled out a quarterly newsletter. The fire company will also have a drill sometime this spring at the air base.

Greenberg said hundreds of people have been trained in CPR by the fire company over the past year.

The company also received the American Heart Association’s 2022 Mission Lifeline EMS Gold Plus Achievement Award for applying the most up-to-date treatment guidelines to improve patient care.

He said that State Rep. Melissa Cerrato rode with the fire company for more than a day.

Walker and then Council President Mark McCouch thanked Greenberg and members of the fire company at the Nov. 8 council meeting for their service to the township in ensuring the safety of residents and helping them in emergencies.