Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-1st dist) announced that the Union Fire Company, Station 37 of Bensalem has received a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist with recruitment and retention.
“The issue of volunteer retention and recruitment has plagued our fire companies for decades. In 1970, there were about 300,000 volunteers statewide; that current number sits at 40,000,” Fitzpatrick said. “In order to save our local fire departments and ensure our communities have the necessary first responders, we must focus on increasing the volunteer force. I am pleased to announce another fire company in Bucks County has received the SAFER grant, and I will continue to advocate for the other local departments who have applied.”
The Union Fire Company, Station 37 was awarded $100,000 through the 2019 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant program. The mission of the SAFER grant program is to enhance the ability of recipients to attain and maintain 24-hour fire department staffing and to better assure that their communities have adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards.
