Newtown Firefighters Secure Extended Contract, Add Staff

The firefighters serving Newtown Borough and Newtown Township have secured a contract extension.

Union CWA Local 13000 and Newtown Township have agreed to a three-year contract extension.

While the firefighters cover the borough and township, they are employees of the Newtown Township Emergency Services Department, which is led by Chief Glenn Forsyth.

Under the new contract, firefighters will adopt a seven-day, 12-hour shift schedule. Additionally, existing firefighters are set to receive a three percent pay increase above their 2024 salaries, and two lieutenant positions will be created, according to Newtown Township Manager Micah Lewis.

Newtown Township has obtained a federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant totaling $1,556,953. The grant will fund the hiring of five new firefighters.

Assistant Chief Nicholas Weaver reported that the new firefighters were selected from a pool of 48 applicants and have completed their paperwork and are set to begin this week.

The recruitment process was competitive with only 17 applicants meeting the requirements. Of that group, the top five were chosen, Weaver said.

The addition of the new personnel increases the department’s full-time, career firefighing team to 12 members. The firefighters will work in close collaboration with local volunteer firefighters covering the township and borough from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week

Newtown Fire Rescue has evolved considerably since its inception in 1996 when it was created to augment the township’s volunteer fire service with paid crews.

The township’s 2024 budget included a total Emergency Services Department cost of $1.6 million. Newtown Borough will pay the township $175,000 this year for fire protection.