A study commissioned by the Marion Fire Department recommends the city go from two to four fire stations by 2021 to protect its growing population and demands for more service.

The study completed by the Center for Public Safety Excellence, a non-profit that accredits fire and emergency service agencies, recommends locations for a third fire station, scheduled to be built in 2018.

The report also criticizes the department's lack of full-time staffing, calling it "less than satisfactory for the risks and demands which currently exist in the city of Marion."

The reports recommends Marion add a fourth fire state by 2021, with up to 21 firefighters and officers working each shift. At this time, up to eight firefighters staff the city's two stations at 600 Eighth Ave. and 3933 Katz Dr.

While the Marion Fire Department plans to open a third station in 2018 and hire nine firefighters to staff it, the report says those staffing levels are insufficient.

City officials haven't begun planning for a fourth station.

The Marion Fire Department opened Station No. 1 in 1964 and Station No. 2 in 1991, when the city's population was about 20,000. It's now 37,000.

"It seems natural that we've doubled the population, then we need two more stations," said Fire Chief Deb Krebill. "I can see why we need two more."

The study recommends the third station go near Tower Terrace Road and 10th Street and a fourth be built near Highway 13 and 35th Avenue.

While the City Council approved hiring nine firefighters to staff Station No. 3, the report indicates it needs to hire 15 to have a minimum of five working each shift. Krebill now wants to see at least 12 firefighters hired for the third station.

In addition to improving response times, the report said, additional fire stations with proper equipment and staffing could lower the city's Insurance Service Office rating, which in turn would lower residential and business fire insurance costs.

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The Cashion Volunteer Fire Department had EMS equipment stolen as the crew was attempting to spread holiday cheer.

The volunteer crews had a Santa and Mrs. Claus to ride in the fire truck and pick up Santa Wish Lists from children around town on Monday night.

Meanwhile, a thief was caught on camera, sneaking around the fire station, breaking into the ambulances, looking for something to steal. Cashion firefighter Trent Gibson said the bold theif was operating in a station full of people, parents and kids, who were just on the other side of the vehicles he broke into.

Surveillance footage shows a young male wearing a camouflage Real Tree hoodie and beanie.  The man took an EMS bag full of expensive equipment needed for life-saving operations.

"Thousands of dollars' worth of equipment and all that. The problem is he had no use for it. He'll never use it," Gibson said. "It's a loss for us and (the) department, and the tax payers will have to resupply that."

The thief can be seen sneaking in and out of the ambulances while children and firefighters are just outside the door. At one point, he managed to sneak out of the side door while an EMT backed the truck into the building, but he went unnoticed.

A neighbor alerted the department of the stolen items when he found medical supplies scattered in his backyard. The bag was recovered, but items were missing.

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Fire crews rushed to Bucks County Technical High School in Bristol Township on Tuesday, but not for an emergency.

Instead they were there to deliver an early Christmas present to the roughly 25 students in the school's emergency service program. Bristol Township's Croydon Fire Co. was gifting them a fire truck.

"It's great because our old truck is a piece of junk, so now that we have this here there are a lot more opportunities," said Dominic Cardone, of Falls, a tech student who volunteers for the Fairless Hills Fire Co., Levittown-Fairless Hills Rescue Squad and Newtown Ambulance Squad. 

The students will use the 1986 Mack engine truck for training exercises to get familiar with the equipment, said Kimberly Caron, the emergency service teacher.

"It's much newer than the one we currently have and it will be much more suitable as far as what we need it for, so it's going to be perfect for the students," she said.

The newer model will replace a 1977 Mack engine truck, which is routinely in the school's diesel shop for repairs, Caron said.

Along with the truck, the fire company also donated expensive fire gear such as tools, hoses and bunker coats and pants. The donations will save the school hundreds of thousands of dollars since a new truck could cost between $450,000 to $600,000, Croydon Fire Chief Tom Tryon said.

For Eric Brennan, a student who volunteers at Bensalem's Nottingham Fire Co., the truck will make it easier for him to teach the younger students about fire safety.

"We walked in to find a new fire truck today not expecting we'd get it. To get this truck is great," he said.

For more information, view www.buckscountycouriertimes.com

Oceanside City Council approved $48,000 to analyze what it would take to retrofit Fire Station No. 1., the city's oldest station.

All masonry buildings within the city must be retrofit by 2026.

The city building, built in 1929, is a designated historic landmark, and provides essential city services. Both of these factors add to the complexity and cost to retrofit the masonry building.

Because it is a historic building its character cannot be changed. Abraham Chen, city associate engineer and project manager, said retrofit work usually involves metal framing that could be put inside the structure without impacting its look.

As an essential services facility building power, water and sewer must withstand the impact of an earthquake and allow public service to continue following a quake. In addition to its age, preliminary engineering found numerous add-ons to the building, which reduce its soundness.

"In a major disaster we have to perform," Fire Chief Darryl Hebert said. "If the door malfunctions, we have to have other safety mechanisms built in, a back up generator. There's a whole bunch of problems that come with the age of the building."

A ballpark estimate for retrofit work is between $15,000 and $30,000. A structural analysis report, and the cost of work will be presented to City Council by March to determine next steps.

The City Council will also weigh the longevity of continuing fire services at the site.

The size of the building does not fit ladder trucks, which are necessary to service downtown buildings over two stories.

Five years ago a design and drawing was completed for a new downtown fire station on city property a block away from the current station. Estimates at that time were between $8 million and $12 million.

Benefits of a new station would be longevity of service, and ability to house necessary equipment.

For more information, view www.thecoastnews.com