John Mack - Newtown Supervisor
Fire Services Agreement 2026 vs 2020 Comparison

The differences between the 2026 Fire Services Agreement and the 2020 Fire Services Agreement touch upon the duration of the agreement, organizational structure, funding specifics, operational requirements, and reporting details.

To summarize the operational shift: the 2026 agreement establishes that the Newtown Fire Association (NFA) and Newtown Emergency Services Department (ESD) will operate as one organization with blended positions and responsibilities.

This is a more integrated and formalized structure (known as "Newtown Fire Rescue" aka NFR) that relies heavily on a unified Operations Manual, while eliminating specific performance metrics (like response times and specific initial funding) and detailed internal procedures found in the 2020 document, moving those details into the new manual or generalized language. It also introduces the Township's right of refusal on equipment sale or disposal. Listen to this short “Deep Dive” audio podcast:

Mack's Newtown Voice · Newtown Fire Rescue: The Pivot to Full Integration

1. Organizational Structure and Branding

  • Integrated Entity Name: The 2026 agreement formally states that the Newtown Fire Association (NFA) and the Newtown Emergency Services Department (ESD) operate as one organization with blended positions and responsibilities, represented as Newtown Fire Rescue. This was not referenced in the 2020 agreement.
  • Assistant Chief Role: The 2026 agreement specifies that the Township Assistant Chief is also the NFA Assistant Fire Chief, whereas the 2020 agreement only mandated that the Township Fire Chief assume the role of NFA Fire Chief.

2. Scope of Services and Response

  • Standby Requirement: The 2020 agreement required the NFA to provide a standby company when engaged elsewhere. The 2026 version removes this, clarifying that aid from adjacent fire companies will be enlisted as needed.
  • Recruitment Responsibility: The 2020 agreement included explicit recruitment responsibilities, omitted from 2026.
  • Primary Coverage Caveat: The 2026 agreement adds the phrase “depending on availability of NFA firefighters.”

3. Funding and Financial Reporting

  • Specific Funding Amount: The 2020 agreement specified $160,000 in Township funding for 2021. The 2026 version removes any dollar figure, deferring to annual Board of Supervisors approval.
  • Budget Submission Deadline: The 2020 deadline of October 31 for annual budget submission is omitted from the 2026 version.

4. Operational Guidelines and Requirements

  • On-Scene Time Standards: The 2020 version required apparatus on scene within 18–20 minutes and at least 4 firefighters per apparatus; this is removed in 2026.
  • Operations Manual: The 2026 agreement expands standard guidelines to include policies and directives compiled in an Operations Manual.
  • Command and Training: Both are simplified in 2026, referencing the Operations Manual rather than listing requirements in detail.
  • Equipment Disposal: The 2026 agreement introduces the Township’s first right of refusal before selling or disposing of firefighting equipment.
  • Incident Reporting: The 2020 version required NFIRS reporting; 2026 changes this to a Record Management System.

Note: The National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) is a voluntary reporting standard that fire departments use to uniformly report on the full range of their activities.

5. Insurance and Workers’ Compensation

  • Workers’ Comp Contingency: The 2026 agreement adds a clause requiring the Township to secure coverage if NFA’s workers’ compensation lapses — not included in 2020.

This summary was prepared by Google NotebookLM.