Page Links
Visit the documents page for reports and recommendations relating to the firehouse and fire services.
Download the PDF of the Invitation to Bid on New Firehouse
10/02/2010 at 3p, Groundbreaking Ceremony at 1245 Fort Washington Avenue, Fort Washington, PA
7/27/2010 at 7p, Special Meeting of the Board of Commissioners: Consider Upper Dublin Fire House Project.
6/15/2010 at 7p, Planning Commission: Firehouse Design, Consider Preliminary Approval.
5/18/2010 at 7p, Planning Commission: Preliminary Submission of Firehouse Design.
3/23/2010 following the PPL Committee Meeting at 6:30p, the Board of Commissioners held a workshop on the "Firehouse Schematic Design."
3/2/2010 at 6:30p, Board of Commissioners Public Safety Works and Services Committee (PSWS) followed by a Workshop on the Firehouse: "Comment Floor Plan." During PSWS Township Staff provided a summary update of the entire firehouse project. This meeting was followed by a workshop for the full Board of Commissioners where the Design and End User Teams presented an initial floor plan identified “Comment Plan,” which is based off of the previously presented programming and budget analysis. This venue was provided so the Board of Commissioners could provide comment and direction to the Teams to be considered throughout the schematic design phase of this project.
9/29/2009 at 7p, Board of Commissioners Workshop on Facility Improvements, Upper Dublin Township Main Meeting Room. The proposed new firehouse was discussed at this presentation as a component of the overall Township Capital Facility projects. Aired live on UDTV and rebroadcast on Thursday, 10/1/2009 at 7p.
6/30/2009 at 7p, Board of Commissioners Special Meeting/Workshop: Presentation of Preliminary Design Concept for New Firehouse by the professionals retained by the Township for the Site Concept Phase. Aired live on UDTV and rebroadcast on Thursday, 7/2/2009 at 7p.
3/10/2009, Board of Commissioners Stated Meeting. Discussed and approved selection of Maida Engineering, Inc. and Pacheco Ross Architects as the Preliminary Site Concept Design team. Aired live on UDTV and rebroadcast on Thursday, 3/12/2009 at 7p.
3/3/2009, Board of Commissioners Public Safety Works and Services Committee Meeting. Discussed Firehouse Preliminary Site Concept Design Professionals. Aired live on UDTV and rebroadcast on Thursday, 3/5/2009 at 7p.
At the Tuesday, March 10, 2009 Board of Commissioners Stated Meeting, approval was granted for the Township to engage the services of Pacheco Ross Architects and Maida Engineering, Inc. as our site concept team. Their scope of work was limited to developing options, or site concepts, for the new firehouse and was intended to be technical in nature. The purpose of this phase was to provide information to the Board of Commissioners, enabling them to make decisions on how to proceed with this project. The office of the Director of Fire Services facilitated this project.
Understanding that the building will be owned by the Township, the "home" of the firefighters, and an integral component of our community, we strive to make the process transparent to our internal and external stakeholders. In order for the fire company to provide information on their technical needs, in a manageable fashion, they were represented by five individuals as their "committee." Citizen appointees, coupled with Commissioner Sharon L. Damsker, joined the fire company committee in their endeavor.
The Firehouse Site Concept Team (2009):
Fort Washington Fire Company, No. 1: (appointed by the FWFC President)
Upper Dublin Township Facilitators (approved by the Township Manager)
Citizen Appointees (appointed by President of the Board of Commissioners)
Township Commissioner Liaison (appointed by President of the Board of Commissioners)
In August 2006, the Upper Dublin Township Board of Commissioners directed that a Facilities Study Committee be created to address the future housing and firematic needs of the main firehouse for the Fort Washington Fire Company, No. 1(FWFC) in the upper-end of the township. Committee members were selected with specific skill sets that would assist the process of guiding this project.
The Facilities Study Committee is comprised of the following people and respective positions:
Fort Washington Fire Company, No. 1: (approved by the FWFC President)
Upper Dublin Township: (approved by the Township Manager)
Township Resident Advisory Representatives: (approved by the Board of Commissioners)
*Note: As of January 1, 2008, Dr. Fogel replaced Mr. Evard as President of the Fire Company and accordingly, replaced him as a representative on the committee.
**Note: As a result of the Facilities Study Report suggesting that a new firehouse be built in the general area of Fort Washington Avenue and Susquehanna Road, on January 8, 2008, the Board of Commissioners appointed Ms. Kuhn and Mr. Yemm to the committee, so they could represent their neighbors in that general area. On March 5, 2008, Ms. Kuhn resigned from this committee.
These FAQs are provided in an effort to assist the residents and business community of Upper Dublin Township with their understanding of the process regarding the proposed new firehouse.
COMPLETED - New Firehouse Site Concept Phase - Links to FAQs
Q1. What is the proposed location for the new firehouse?
A. By virtue of Resolution 1995, the Board of Commissioners identified 1245 Fort Washington Avenue, commonly referred to as the Bonsell Site, as the “most appropriate site for a new fire station.”
Q2. What is the current status of this project?
A. Professional Service Agreements were signed by an architectural and engineering firm to evaluate the property, and develop conceptual plans, that will be presented to the Board of Commissioners; this is the “site concept” phase of the project.
Q3. Is the Facilities Study Committee still in effect?
A. No; the Facilities Study Committee has been disbanded since this phase of the project was completed.
Q4. Has the Township addressed the previously expressed safety concerns regarding the proposed location in relationship to the Upper Dublin High School?
A. Yes; before the Facilities Study Phase was completed, and the Site Concept Phase began, traffic studies and a risk assessment were conducted by independent professionals in response to the expressed concerns. The summary states, in part, that the “added risk is so statistically small, that the fire safety benefits (to the students and school buildings due to the fire station’s closer proximity to the schools), would more than likely outweigh the added risks due to fire related vehicle accidents.” This report is posted on the documents web page.
Q5. Are there any additional uses proposed for this site?
A. Our engaged professionals will provide conceptual plans for the site’s use and identify options to the Board of Commissioners. Their evaluation will include all options on how the site might be best used.
Q6. Specifically, what is being completed during the site concept phase?
A. This phase is intended to be technical nature, which the architect and engineer will embrace based on previously identified “deliverables.” They are, in part, programming, conceptual site and layout design, budgeting (soft and hard cost projections); initial storm water management, utilities, and civil services; finally, coordination between Township Staff, the engaged professionals, community representatives, and the Fort Washington Fire Company, No.1. There are not any decisions being made by the established Site Concept Team, rather organized planning and evaluations of different options, to be submitted to the full Board of Commissioners for their direction. This phase will conclude with a written report and presentation to the Board.
Q7. When will the report based on the site concept be presented?
A. June 9, 2009 at the Board of Commissioners Stated Meeting.
Q8. How are the neighbors’ interests being considered during this phase?
A. The Board of Commissioners included three appointed citizen representatives to the Site Concept Team, combined with Commissioner Sharon L. Damsker’s involvement. There will be future meeting invitations extended to the “fence line neighbors” and updates on the firehouse web page. Furthermore, the Fire Company serves an integral role in this process; of particular note, the Fort Washington Fire Company, No.1 is primarily comprised of Upper Dublin Township residents. Citizens or interested parties that have any additional questions are welcomed by the Director of Fire Services.
COMPLETED - Facilities Study Phase - Links to FAQs
Q1. Why is a new firehouse necessary?
A. Since the current main firehouse at 220 Summit Avenue no longer meets the needs of the fire and rescue service in the upper-end of the township, an independent study was conducted to determine three options: 1) Renovate the Summit Avenue Station, 2) Renovate the Summit Avenue station and build a new sub-station in the Maple Glen area, and 3) Eliminate options one and two in favor of building a new main firehouse in the center of the upper-end of the township. The study determined that option three was the necessary option. The Summit Avenue station no longer meets national standards and does not adequately address fire and rescue response needs for the Maple Glen area of the township, a new main station must be built. Additional information is included in the study that is posted on the documents web page.
Q2. When was the Facilities Study Committee established and who was represented?
A. The committee was established in August, 2006 and was comprised of the following positions: Fort Washington Fire Company, No. 1 (FWFC) President, Chief, Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief and Chief Engineer; Upper Dublin Township Fire Services Administrator, Fire Marshal and Director of Public Works; and initially two Township Resident Advisory Representatives, later joined by two additional residents.
Q3. What is the Standard of Coverage Report?
A. This report evaluated the fire and rescue service provided to the township. It addressed types of fire apparatus and the related response times to different target hazards to meet national standards. This report is posted on the documents web page.
Q4. When was the Facilities Study Report received?
A. This report was presented to the Board of Commissioners in August, 2007. This report is posted on the documents web page.
Q5. What is the Bulls-eye?
A. The bulls-eye is defined as the area best situated to support the new firehouse, so it can effectively service the entire upper-end of the township in a balanced effort. See map below.
Q6. What area of the Township is recommended for a new firehouse?
A. The inner circle with the asterisk in the center represents the bulls-eye, which indicates the recommended area to build the new firehouse (see map below). This general area will ensure balanced protection to the entire upper-end of the township by meeting nationally recognized standards established by the Insurance Services Office (ISO) involving distance and time. Each outer ring represents the extended distance from the bulls-eye that will affect the distance and time. Note: the numbers in the background represent the incident Box Number used by emergency responders to ensure that the proper resources are dispatched.
Q7. How do the current location of fire apparatus support the standards established by the ISO?
A. The outline on the map below indicates the location of the two firehouses serving the township and how the respective fire apparatus respond to meet nationally recognized standards established by the Insurance Services Office (ISO) involving distance and time. It also demonstrates the area not equally protected by township fire apparatus.
Q8. What properties were identified and eliminated?
A. Many sites were evaluated and subsequently eliminated. The sites that were evaluated beyond a verbal suggestion are identified in the Facilities Study Committee Recommendation of Site for New Main Firehouse Executive Summary and Report, which is posted on the documents web page. Also available to download is a one page summary report of sites considered. Three sites have been recommended to the Board of Commissioners for consideration. They are 1) the former Bonsell Nursery at 1245 Fort Washington Avenue, 2) the Lenahan property at 1256 Fort Washington Avenue, and 3) the Field of Dreams at the rear of the municipal complex, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue.
Q9. What is the condition of associated roads such as Summit Avenue, Fort Washington Avenue and Susquehanna Road?
A. Summit Avenue is a narrow street consisting of densely populated residences with on-street parking and children playing nearby. Fort Washington Avenue is a state highway and main thoroughfare for the township with curbs on both sides and sidewalks on the side by the schools. Although the area proposed for a new fire house involves a school zone with the driveway outside that school zone, the line of sight is clear along the sides of this road and essentially unobstructed. An independent traffic study has been conducted that determined there is no direct safety issue by having a firehouse located at the Bonsell property. That study is posted on the documents web page. Susquehanna Road is also a state highway and main thoroughfare for the township. It provides ample width for myriad vehicles and, for the most part, offers a sufficient berm.
Q10. What is the relationship of vehicular traffic to the new high school layout?
A. The design of the new high school will allow traffic to enter and exit at Susquehanna Road, thereby reducing the time specific traffic that is on Fort Washington Avenue at Hawthorne Lane. This will also apply to special events such as football games and school plays. The existing entrance and exit on Loch Alsh Avenue will remain. A depiction of this new roadway is posted on the Upper Dublin School District web site.
Q11. Are there mediation efforts to better control traffic?
A. The new high school plan considers and improves the existing traffic flow in the surrounding area. The intersection of Fort Washington Avenue and Susquehanna Road is equipped with an Opticom Preemption device that stops traffic in all directions except for the approaching emergency vehicle. A significant difference in traffic flow involving a firehouse at the former Bonsell Nursery is not anticipated.
Q12. What educational facilities are located along Fort Washington Avenue?
A. The Upper Dublin High School is located at 800 Loch Alsh Avenue at the corner of Fort Washington Avenue and supports grades nine through twelve. The Church of the Open Door is located at 1260 Fort Washington Avenue and operates a day care center for pre-school children as well as an elementary school in the rear of the property for which children are primarily bused or dropped off by parents. The pending Lubavitch Synagogue will be located at 1311 Fort Washington Avenue and is also expected to operate a day care center for pre-school children. The Fort Washington Elementary School is located at 1010 Fort Washington Avenue at the corner of Highland Avenue and supports kindergarten through the fifth grade.
Q13. Are school crossing guards posted near the two schools?
A. There are four school crossing guard posts established to assist students who walk to school. One post each is located at Fort Washington Avenue and Hawthorne Lane and Fort Washington Avenue and Loch Alsh Avenue for the high school students. One post each is located at Fort Washington Avenue and Thomas Drive and Fort Washington Avenue and Highland Avenue for the elementary school students.
Q14. Are sidewalks provided for students who walk to school?
A. Concrete sidewalks are provided along each public roadway at each school.
Q15. What are the driving requirements for volunteer firefighters responding to a call?
A. Volunteer firefighters are required pursuant to the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, Title 75, to obey all traffic laws. This includes operating their personal vehicle at 15 mph or below in an activated school zone, regardless if other motorists yield the road to them.
Q16. Will fire apparatus exceed the posted speed limit to an emergency?
A. In addition to Pennsylvania law, the fire company follows the recommendation by the Volunteer Fire Insurance Service that the fire apparatus may exceed the posted speed limit up to 10 mph, if necessary, depending on the nature of the call and road conditions. The fire company also enforces its own Standard Operating Guideline that prohibits speed in excess of 15 mph in an activated school zone.
Q17. Do the firefighters and fire apparatus currently respond to incidents by using Fort Washington Avenue in the area of the schools?
A. The fire company has always used Fort Washington Avenue as a primary response route to calls for help. This also includes volunteer firefighters driving to the firehouse to respond on the fire apparatus.
Q18. How do the police respond to calls from the municipal complex?
A. The police also use Fort Washington Avenue as a primary response route to incidents. This includes responding to an incident from police headquarters.
Q19. Has a traffic engineer analyzed the propriety of placing a fire station near schools?
A. The Township retained the professional services of Orth-Rodgers Associates, Philadelphia, to evaluate any possible safety concerns of building a firehouse on the former Bonsell property. The findings indicated there are no safety issues identified with this site. The report is posted on the documents web page.
Q20. Are there other firehouses located near schools, day care centers and playgrounds in the region?
A. There are numerous examples of long-standing relationships involving a firehouse located next to or across the street from a firehouse. Most firehouses were located in the town center by design many years ago.
Examples include, but are not limited to:
| Firehouse | Situated | School/Playground | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barren Hill Fire Company | three 1/2 blocks away | Saint Philip Neri ES | |
| Belmont Fire Company | two blocks away | Belmont ES | |
| Bridgeport & Goodwill Fire Companies |
three 1/2 & three blocks away |
MontCo Academy for troubled teens | |
| Conshocken & Washington Fire Companies | two blocks away each | Saint Matthew ES | |
| Elkins Park Fire Company | three blocks away | Meyers ES | |
| Flourtown Fire Company | three blocks away | Saint Genevieve ES | |
| George Clay Fire Company | 1/2 block away | school bus crossing | |
| Horsham Fire Company Main Station | two blocks away | Keith Valley MS | |
| Horsham Fire Company Substation | across the street | large municipal park | |
| Huntingdon Valley Fire Company | across the street/ next door |
Lower Moreland HS/ Murray Avenue School |
|
| Jeffersonville Fire Company | next door/share driveway apron | Township park, playground, basketball & tennis courts. | |
| King of Prussia Fire Company | two blocks away | Mother of Divine Providence ES | |
| Lamott Fire Company | next door | municipal playground | |
| McKinley Fire Company | next door/ four blocks away |
municipal playground/ McKinley ES |
student crosswalk next to firehouse/ Second Alarmers sub-station across from firehouse |
| Norris Fire Company | trucks pass directly | Gotwals ES | Norristown's busiest firehouse - 1,200 calls per year. |
| North Penn Fire Company | four blocks away | Saint Rose of Lima ES | Railroad crossing gates next to the apparatus apron. |
| Oreland Fire Company | two blocks away | Holy Martyrs ES | |
| Philadelphia Fire Department | Numerous firehouses in congested school zones throughout the city. | ||
| Phoenixville Fire Company | 1/2 block away | Montessori Children's House of Valley Forge | "School happy to have firehouse nearby." |
| Radnor Fire Company | next door | Radnor Township MS | Principal stated "he was happy to be located next to firehouse for fast help in an emergency." School being replaced with new school on same site. |
| Roslyn Fire Company | two blocks away | Roslyn ES | School replaced with new school on same site. |
| Skippack Fire Company | next door | The Goddard School | New firehouse being built next to current firehouse. |
| Swedeland Fire Company | near | unfenced municipal playground | |
| Swedesburg Fire Company | three blocks away | Lincoln Center Alternate School for teens | |
| Towamencin Fire Company | across the street | Firehouse Park | |
| Valley Forge Fire Company | next door/same driveway apron | Boy Scout Troop 73 Campground/Meeting | |
| Weldon Fire Company | across the street | former Glenside-Weldon ES | for 100 years |
| Wissahickon Fire Company sub-station | 4/10 mile around the corner | Gwynedd Mercy Academy ES | Sub-station under Lower Gwynedd Twp Building. |
| Worchester Fire Company | one block away | Heebner Park | |
| Wyndmoor Hose Company | across the street | former Seven Dolors ES and current Regina Coeli Academy | for 100 years at two different locations |
Also note, it is known that firehouses are located on narrow and congested streets with parking on both sides of the street and consecutive buildings. Inquiries were made to the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety, the Montgomery County Municipal Fire Officers Association, the Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioners Office, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Fire Protection Association and the United States Fire Administration to ascertain if there was a known safety hazard of a firehouse being located in or near a school zone. The findings indicated there is no known correlation of traffic accidents resulting from a firehouse being in or near a school.
Pictures of current firehouses located near schools.
Q21. Will there be a siren installed at the new firehouse?
A. The new firehouse will not have a new siren installed. The current siren behind the municipal complex will remain.
Q22. If the former Bonsell property is selected by the Board of Commissioners, where will the entrance and exit for the fire apparatus be located?
A. The design of the new firehouse has not begun and is not scheduled to begin until the second half of 2008. However, the entrance and exit can be situated toward Susquehanna Road, thereby avoiding the immediate school zone.
Q23. If a currently unidentified site on Susquehanna Road was selected, would the volunteer firefighters still use Fort Washington Avenue to respond to the firehouse?
A. The firefighters would still have to travel on Fort Washington Avenue to arrive at a firehouse on Susquehanna Road.
Q24. How many Township employees are volunteer firefighters with the Fort Washington Fire Company or neighboring fire companies?
A. The Township employs 15 volunteer firefighters. They do not respond to all calls, depending on the nature of the incident and their task at that time. Not all calls require numerous firefighters. The employees may be located throughout the township at the time of an emergency dispatch, and not necessarily at the municipal complex.
Q25. How many high school students are junior firefighters?
A. The fire company has 11 junior firefighters who attend the Upper Dublin High School and leave for emergency dispatches. There is an agreement between the school district, the fire company and the parents that the junior firefighters can leave school for an emergency dispatch. Junior firefighters are classified as members between the age of 16 and 18 years old. This privilege can be suspended or revoked if grades are unsatisfactory.
Q26. Does the Township need a firehouse in Maple Glen?
A. The concept of a substation in Maple Glen, which would be the third firehouse in the Township, was addressed in the Facilities Study Report of December 2007. It was determined that there was insufficient volunteer staffing available to adequately support a substation in this section of the Township. Moreover, a new main firehouse in the general area of the identified bulls-eye (see question 6 above) will provide adequate protection to Maple Glen.
1999-2011, Upper Dublin Township, Pennsylvania. All rights reserved.
The Township of Upper Dublin
801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington, PA 19034
Phone: (215) 643-1600 TTY: 711 Fax: (215) 542-0797
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Translate The Upper Dublin Township Website
The Township of Upper Dublin
801 Loch Alsh Avenue
Fort Washington, PA 19034
Phone: (215) 643-1600
TTY: 711
Fax: (215) 542-0797
Seated left to right:
Ronald P. Feldman (VP)-Ward 6
Ira S. Tackel (Pres.)-Ward 4
Chester H. Derr, III-Ward 3
Standing left to right:
Sharon L. Damsker-Ward 2
John R. Minehart-Ward 1
Stanley J. Ropski-Ward 7
Rebecca A. Gushue-Ward 5
