West Chester, Pa (February 4, 2025) – Firefighters and emergency first responders in the West Chester area will soon have access to additional equipment to keep them safe when responding to roadside emergencies.
State Senator Carolyn Comitta secured $100,000 in state funding for the West Chester Fire Department to purchase “blocking equipment,” a large piece of equipment or apparatus that is utilized at emergency sites to block vehicles from getting to the emergency scene. It is especially important in protecting emergency first responders from passing vehicles on highways or other heavily traveled roads.
“As a former Mayor of West Chester, I had the opportunity to witness the heroic and selfless work of our firefighters and emergency first responders time and time again. They deserve the tools and equipment they need to do their jobs safely and effectively, without having to risk being struck by a passing vehicle,” Comitta said. “This is an investment in protecting the people who protect our communities.”
The grant, which comes through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, will help the department obtain blocking equipment that will be used by its three 100 percent-volunteer companies: First West Chester, Good Will, and Fame.
“We are very thankful for Senator Comitta and her unwavering support to ensure the safety of our first responders,” said Steve Pelna, past chief of the West Chester Fire Department.
According to fire officials, the Chester County Department of Emergency Services has a piece of blocking equipment but it can take up to an hour or more to mobilize it to the emergency scene, assuming it’s not already deployed to another location.
Without designated blocking equipment, the West Chester Fire Department is forced to use a $1.5-2 million dollar fire truck to block roadside emergency response efforts from passing traffic. Not only is this dangerous to the four emergency personnel staffing the truck, but a vehicle strike can prove costly to the department and result in vital emergency equipment being out of commission until repaired or replaced.
In 2019, an estimated 2,500 vehicles crashed into firetrucks parked as blockers (6.8 crashes every day or 16 percent of all firetruck collisions), according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Studies have also found that secondary collisions account for approximately 15 percent of all collisions and result in 18 percent of all traffic fatalities nationwide, according to the U.S Fire Administration.
The West Chester Fire Department provides fire/rescue services to the citizens of West Chester Borough, as well as West Goshen, East Bradford, Westtown, Birmingham, and Thornbury Townships.
For more information about the department and how you can volunteer, visit wcfiredept.org
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