Palmyra Borough opens discussions on fire department funding requests

Palmyra Borough Council reviewed requests made by the Palmyra Fire Department during its Sept. 23 meeting but did not take action.

The fire department is struggling with a decreasing volunteer force between the two municipalities it serves — Palmyra Borough and North Londonderry Township.

These staffing difficulties are happening throughout the country. National Fire Protection Association numbers state there were about 808,200 volunteer firefighters serving throughout the United States in 1986, compared to 635,100 in 2023, despite populations increasing over that time.

The department’s requests include North Londonderry Township establishing a fire tax, the fire chief and deputy fire chief being named as fire marshals, and either increasing the incentive program to $300,000 or making