Fire Companies Respond To Warminster Full-Time Hires

WARMINSTER, PA —The township's two fire companies have issued their first statement regarding the township's plans to hire three full-time firefighters.

The Warminster Fire Department and Hartsville Fire Company said in a joint statement that they are looking forward to getting full-time coverage throughout the day, something both companies have been seeking for several years.

"The volunteers of the Warminster Fire Department are beyond excited by the moves the township is making with the hiring of three full-time personnel to assist the fire departments of Warminster during the day," the statement read. "This coverage will improve our on-scene times during the hardest-to-staff hours of the day, greatly benefiting the community."

At its meeting last month, supervisors approved the hiring of three full-time firefighters to provide daytime coverage. Since then, more details about the positions became available.

Township officials are actively recruiting professional firefighters for full-time employment, accepting applications through July 24.

The starting salary is $65,000 per year or $31.25 per hour. The position comes with health, dental, and vision insurance benefits, an employer-paid retirement plan benefit, and two weeks of annual paid vacation.

Interested parties should forward the completed job application, resume, and cover letter to Warminster Township Human Resources at cfriel@warminsterpa.org.

It is still unclear whether the fire companies will join township supervisors at a meeting for a formal ceremony. Nothing is on the agenda for Thursday's meeting.

Over the past few years, township officials and the two fire companies have disagreed about why the township does not have daytime fire coverage.

The two fire companies held town hall meetings at the beginning of the year to state their case to residents that fire officials tried to seek funding for full-time firefighters. The fire companies have criticized the township for failing to provide adequate daytime coverage.

The fire department argued that Warminster received a $1.8 million SAFER grant two years ago to pay for five full-time firefighters for three years but the township never enacted it.

The Warminster Fire Department said that while the township moves toward daytime staffing, volunteers will continue providing needed coverage and are needed more than ever.

"We are looking for firefighters to fill our ranks and administrative personnel to help run our organizations," the department said in a Facebook post. "We provide many opportunities for volunteering and are always looking for new members."

Volunteers receive free training and also benefits such as free life insurance, a yearly incentive program, and free uniforms. Volunteers can also earn college credits and receive scholarship opportunities.

Anyone interested in volunteering can get more information by clicking here for the Warminster Fire Department or the Hartsville Fire Company.