Decertification of Pinecroft Volunteer Fire Company
March 5, 2026 / Bellwood, PA
The Antis Township Supervisors are committed to providing our community with the best possible Fire Protection and Emergency Services possible.
The Pennsylvania 2nd class township code places the responsibility to ensure fire services on the Township Supervisors. There are well known challenges facing the volunteer fire service in Pennsylvania including the decreasing number of volunteer firefighters and the dramatic increase in cost of operations and capital equipment with an associated decrease in traditional fundraising.
To support and enhance the volunteer fire services and to provide independent and external advice, the Township recently worked with Bellwood Borough and PA Department of Economic and Community Development Local Government Services to complete a Fire Services Study which “…offers a comprehensive evaluation of the current fire protection system in Antis Township and Bellwood Borough.” The study aims to “guide township and borough officials in making informed decisions about future fire service delivery, operations, staffing and infrastructure.”. The primary recommendation from this study was to Unify Services through the formation of a single fire department. Currently Antis Township is served by two volunteer departments (Excelsior Volunteer Fire Department and Pinecroft Volunteer Fire Department). Prior to this recent report, in 2020 the Antis Township Supervisors completed a separate study on the Volunteer Fire Service. That study recommended a similar solution (moving to a single department).
Based on the expert recommendations it is the vision of the Township Supervisors to support a single fire department serving Antis Township. This will strengthen services and work to address the challenges facing the volunteer fire services. The Excelsior FD and Pinecroft FD are independent nonprofit organizations and must be authorized by the Township Supervisors to operate in the Township.
The Township has spent countless hours attempting to work with both Excelsior and Pinecroft Fire Departments since 2020 in an attempt to increase communication and cooperation between the departments. These efforts were made in an effort to preserve and strengthen both departments as well as gain financial efficiencies. This effort has, regrettably, not been successful and we are now at a point where, due to the financial demands and inconsistent training and call responses, feel it is in the best interests of our residents to support one fire department. After determining that having one single company was best for all residents, the Township invited both the Excelsior and Pinecroft volunteer fire companies to participate in discussions about how to accomplish that most effectively.
The Township held a special public meeting on January 16th with representatives from both fire departments invited to participate in a discussion concerning the proposed merger invitation from Excelsior FD to Pinecroft FD. The outcome of the January 16th meeting stipulated a deadline of the March 5, 2026 Board of Supervisor meeting for representatives of the two departments to work out the few remaining details and present a formal written Merger Agreement to the Township. The Township can confirm that representatives from both departments met on multiple occasions and, at one point, we were informed that there was a verbal agreement. However, as of our meeting this evening, March 5th, there is no formal signed agreement that has been presented. Excelsior representatives indicated that they are willing to sign the most recent version of their negotiationed agreement, but Pinecroft at their meetong Tuesday, March 3, 2026 rejected this agreement. That version included the changes requested by the attorney for Pinecroft Volunteer Fire Co. at a meeting of the representatives on Monday, March 2nd and changes requested from a previous meeting. In an effort to provide Pinecroft FD a last opportunity to do what is the best option for our residents the Township Supervisors have give a deadline of Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 9:00AM, to gather their members and vote on the proposed merger agreement. If they are unable to provide the executed agreement by this amended deadline Pinecroft FD will have failed to achieve a single company in the best interests of their community, and based on the operational capabilities, fiscal and administrative strength demonstrated by Excelsior, the Township Supervisors will authorize the Excelsior Volunteer Fire Department as the sole provider of fire and rescue services and will withdraw its recognition from Pinecroft Volunteer Fire Department.
This action will not adversely affect the Fire Protection of the community and our residents. Instead, it is meant to preserve the volunteer service and improve it through consolidated financial support for Excelsior Volunteer Fire Department. The Excelsior Volunteer Fire Department for many years has been covering all calls within the Township through dual dispatch.
With this action, the Township Supervisors will decertify the Pinecroft Volunteer Fire Department. With this action, we will suspend funding and restrict authorization to respond to emergency calls.
The Antis Township Supervisors do want to publicly thank and recognize the officers and members of Pinecroft Volunteer Fire Service for their many years of service and the personal sacrifices it takes to be a Volunteer Fire Fighter.
The Antis Township Supervisors join the residents, businesses and institutions of the community in the hope that the members and officers of the Pinecroft Volunteer Fire Company will work with the Township staff and Excelsior Volunteer Fire Department during this transition. There is community-wide support and appreciation for Pinecroft’s resident volunteers and an expectation that the significant assets of Pinecroft Volunteer Fire remain in Bellwood-Antis to help build an even stronger volunteer fire department.
If any residents has questions about this action they are encouraged to contact the Antis Township Office (814-742-7361) or review the two Fire Service Studies that have been completed and available on our website.