Berwyn Fire Company Awarded $1.5 Million in State Funding for New Station
Rep. Melissa Shusterman April 25, 2022 | 9:29 AM
West Chester, Pa (April 22, 2022) – Berwyn Fire Company is $1.5 million closer to replacing its main station with a new, state-of-the-art firehouse, state Senator Carolyn Comitta and state Reps. Kristine Howard and Melissa Shusterman announced today.
The funding, awarded through the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, will support the construction and development of a new fire station located on the company’s existing footprint on Bridge Avenue in Berwyn.
The new station will replace the more than 90-year-old existing structure to allow firefighters and company personnel to respond faster and more safely to fire and EMS emergencies in the growing region for decades to come.
“Berwyn Fire Company has a long tradition of serving two townships with large populations. This RACP award will help the company plan for the future and gets us one step closer to the goal,” said Berwyn Fire Chief Eamon C. Brazunas. “The first responder community is grateful to our state lawmakers for their commitment to bringing this money back to the district.”
The new firehouse will feature four apparatus bays, as well as four private bedrooms, four private bathrooms, a common bedroom, and a laundry room. In addition, it will have a kitchen, fitness room, office space, radio room, emergency management coordination room, and additional storage space. It will also have clearly defined cold, warm, and hot zones to reduce carcinogen exposure.
“Our firefighters and emergency first responders put their lives on the line around the clock to keep our communities safe. It’s important that they have a modern firehouse outfitted with the tools, technology, and space to safely and effectively do their jobs,” Comitta said. “I am proud to support this investment in our public safety infrastructure and thank Berwyn Fire Company and all our firefighters and emergency first responders for their ongoing commitment to our communities.”
“I’ve had many conversations with Tredyffrin and Berwyn Fire Company since I took office in 2019 about funding for a new station. I am ecstatic that we will be bringing $1.5 million in taxpayer money back to the district,” said state Rep. Melissa Shusterman. “This allows Berwyn Fire Company to build a new station and continue to keep residents in the area safe. It is a huge win for the safety of Chester and Delaware County residents.”
“The Berwyn Fire Company is a tremendous community resource,” Howard said. “Having worked with the company, I am very pleased with this announcement. This funding will help Berwyn Fire Company with this important and long overdue project.”
Founded in 1894 the Berwyn Fire Company is a non-profit organization that provides fire suppression, rescue, EMS, and fire prevention services for the people who live, work, and travel through Tredyffrin and Easttown Townships. Its combined 70 volunteers, 10 full-time employees, and 28 part-time employees respond to more than 2,150 ambulance calls and 900 fire calls annually. In addition to emergency calls, its emergency first responders spend approximately 1,000 hours per year training to prepare for scenarios when every second counts.
The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program is a Commonwealth reimbursement grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. RACP projects are authorized in the state budget, have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact, and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues, or other measures of economic activity.