Bristol Township Council votes to close Newportville fire company

The Bristol Township Council in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, voted 5-2 to remove the Newportville Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 from the township’s recognized fire districts. The decision initiates a 30-day countdown, after which the company will no longer be permitted to respond to emergency dispatches in the area.

Township officials cited several operational issues for the closure, including manpower struggles, recruitment and retention difficulties, and financial concerns. Township Manager Randee Mazur noted that the company had issues with response times, stating that Newportville was not the first arriving apparatus in 20 out of 24 listed incidents. The decision follows years of unsuccessful merger and consolidation efforts.

Following the 30-day period, emergency coverage for Newportville’s territory will be absorbed by neighboring agencies, primarily the Third District fire company. The Croydon, Edgely, Levittown No. 2, and Third District companies will remain as the township’s volunteer providers, supplemented by the career staff of Bristol Township Fire Rescue. Officials maintain that the redrawn boundaries ensure every address remains within an assigned primary volunteer fire district and that the change does not create a public safety risk.