Fighting Fire with Foresight: The Case for a 24/7 Combination Department

Montgomery Township is at a pivotal moment in how it delivers emergency services. In this episode, Township Manager Carolyn McCreary speaks with Fire Chief Bill Wiegman about the growing challenge of maintaining safe and timely fire response amidst declining volunteerism, modern construction risks, and increasing emergency call volumes.

The conversation outlines a proposed transition to a fully staffed, 24/7 combination fire department — a change designed to improve response times, increase firefighter safety, and better serve the community. This proposal includes the hiring of 19 career firefighters. Township staff are seeking consensus from the Board of Supervisors to include it in the 2026 Township Budget. If included in the budget, it would require a real estate tax increase to fund the expansion.

Learn what’s at stake, what the data shows, and how the Township is planning for the future of public safety — with residents' lives, property, and dollars in mind.

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