209 Washington Street
P.O. Box 209
Walnutport, PA 18088
610-767-9629
2010 FUND DRIVE & NEWSLETTER
This fund drive is supported by the
Fire Officers and Board of Directors
and is an approved mailing.
WALNUTPORT'S
FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
The Diamond Fire Company and Slatington Fire Department are jointly hosting the 113th annual Four-County Firemen's Convention and Parade. The Convention and Banquet will be held on Saturday, June 19, 2010 with the Parade being held on Saturday, June 26, 2010 winding through both boroughs. (CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR UPDATES)
Cost to Outfit a Firefighter
Volunteers Saving Our Community Thousands
The Diamond Fire Company provides primary Fire Protection for the residents of Walnutport Borough, as well as providing mutual aid to any other area fire company that my request it. Since 1896, our all volunteer organization operates on donations and fundraisers. There is NO MUNICIPAL TAX SOLELY FOR FIRE PROTECTION in our municipality. This means that the people doing the firefighting and other emergency work (and training and maintenance) are the same people conducting dozens of fundraisers each year (which equals even more time away from our families) simply to pay the bills of the Fire Department. After paying for maintenance costs, updating out-dated equipment, insurance costs, utilites and day-to-day expenses, there is very little left from our operating budget to save for apparatus replacement.
Last year our fund drive to the residents and businesses accounted for approximately 1/5 of our income. The sad part is that we received donations from only 24% of these same residents and businesses. The fire department needs your support now and every year.
On November 14th, 2008 our department was very fortunate to have been awarded a FEMA grant in the amount of $261,250 to purchase a new Pumper that replaced our aging Attack Pumper and Tanker. The new Pumper was awarded and built by KME Fire Apparatus in Nesquehoning, PA at a cost of $380,742. The Pumper was ordered on December 28, 2008 and delivered on September 3, 2009. The balance of the total cost was secured with a 2% loan through PEMA.
To appreciate strictly the cost savings of a volunteer fire company, please consider the following; The salary of a 4-person crew (driver, officer and 2 firefighters) for only one shift (40 hrs/week, no benefits) would be at least $150,000/year plus the insurance, loose equipment, personal gear, utilities and day-to-day expenses. This easily and quickly adds up to hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, strictly for our small area. In these trying economic times it may not seem appropriate to appeal for your donation. Despite the current economic situation, we still have obligations to meet. Obligations that allow us to continue to provide the high level of service that we do. Your donation to us, no matter how small, is still extremely important and we are very thankful for it.
We thank you for the tremendous support you as a community have shown us over the years. We are always looking for volunteers. We can use volunteers for emergency responses and we can use volunteers in support positions such as fund raisers and maintenance functions. Applications are available here or stop by the Fire Station on a Wednesday evening. Thank you for your continued support.
Download 2010 Fund Drive Newsletter (PDF) Download 2010 Donation Request Form (PDF)
