East Manchester Township Plans to Drop Mount Wolf Fire Company 2026

Key Points

• East Manchester Township aims to rescind recognition of Eagle Fire Company of Mount Wolf as an emergency responder from January 1, 2027.
• East Manchester Township gets its fire protection from Union Fire Company No. 1 of Manchester and Eagle Fire Company of Mount Wolf.
• The board unanimously adopted a motion to engage its solicitor to draft a resolution to rescind the status of Eagle Fire Company.
• The resolution is supposed to be up for discussion and action at the board’s November 10, 2026, meeting.
• The reasons mentioned by the supervisors included the financial standing of Eagle Fire Company and an inability to respond to certain calls using an engine.
• The expected income of Eagle Fire Company in 2027 is $225,500 with an expected deficit exceeding $114,000.
• Union Fire Company has been dispatched for all calls made to East Manchester Township for several years.
• With the approval of the motion, Union Fire Company shall be the designated fire department of East Manchester Township.
• The notification shall be sent to the Manchester Borough, Mount Wolf Borough and Eagle Fire Company.
• Efforts by York Daily Record to contact Eagle Fire Company went in vain.

Manchester (Manchester Mirror) October 19, 2026 – East Manchester Township plans to withdraw its recognition of Mount Wolf’s Eagle Fire Company as a provider of emergency services from January 1, 2027, after supervisors raised concerns about the volunteer company’s finances and response capability.

As reported by the York Daily Record, the township currently receives fire protection from two volunteer departments: Union Fire Company No. 1 in Manchester and Eagle Fire Company in Mount Wolf. The municipality provides equal funding to both departments.

During its October 13 meeting, the Board of Supervisors discussed Eagle Fire Company’s financial position and what it described as a lack of manpower to respond to some emergency calls. The board then unanimously voted to instruct its solicitor to draft a resolution “withdrawing East Manchester Township’s recognition and designation of the Mount Wolf fire company as a provider of fire protection services for the municipality.”

The proposed withdrawal would take effect on January 1, 2027, if the resolution is approved. The supervisors said the measure will be discussed and ready for action at their November 10, 2026 meeting.

What did township supervisors say about fire coverage?

Township Board Chairman David L. Naylor said continuing with the current service model was “not in the best interest of East Manchester residents.”

As reported by the York Daily Record, Naylor acknowledged Eagle Fire Company’s financial difficulties but said it was not fair to ask township taxpayers to support a borough fire company. “I do realize they’re in financial straits down there, but … it’s not fair to the township taxpayers to bail out a borough fire company,” Naylor said.

Union Fire Chief Joe Stevens told supervisors that Union Fire Company has a balanced budget. The supervisors said they had reviewed Eagle Fire Company’s budget, which is operating in the red this year. For 2027, Eagle Fire Company projects $225,500 in revenue and a deficit of more than $114,000.

How often has Eagle Fire Company failed to respond?

The board also discussed Eagle Fire Company’s inability to respond with an engine to some emergency calls. Chief Stevens said the failure rate was about 6 per cent, while Union Fire Company’s failure rate was zero.

Stevens said Union Fire Company had experienced problems with Eagle Fire Company not responding to calls four years ago. He said the simplest solution was for the Manchester fire department to be dispatched to all calls in East Manchester Township, a protocol that remains in place.

The York Daily Record reported that Union Fire Company has been dispatched to all township calls for several years to ensure coverage.

What happens if the resolution is approved?

If the resolution is approved, Union Fire Company would be designated as East Manchester Township’s fire department.

Vice Chairman Darryl Albright noted that other fire departments in York County provide mutual aid on emergency calls. Naylor said the board will discuss other options involving Union Fire Company and any mutual-aid assistance available from surrounding departments at its November meeting.

The township manager will notify Manchester Borough, Mount Wolf Borough and the Mount Wolf fire department about the township’s intention.

Has Eagle Fire Company responded to the plans?

Attempts by the York Daily Record to obtain comment from Eagle Fire Company were unsuccessful. The newspaper reported that the company’s phone voicemail box was full, an email was returned as undeliverable, and a message sent through Facebook was not answered.

Eagle Fire Company’s website says it has served Mount Wolf since 1922 and protects Mount Wolf Borough and East Manchester Township.

The township’s own fire services page states that Eagle Fire Company serves the eastern half of East Manchester Township, while Union Fire Company No. 1 serves the western half.

What funding decisions were made at the meeting?

Later in the meeting, the board voted 2-1 to approve $72,243.44 for the Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Association, with the funding split evenly between the two departments in 2026. Supervisor Dean Kohr voted against the measure.

The board unanimously denied a monetary request from Eagle Fire Company for reporting software.

Naylor said a consolidation of the two volunteer departments has been discussed, but the companies are not interested in merging. “A forced consolidation never works,” he said.

What earlier review examined township fire services?

The township’s website says that, at its July 14, 2026 public meeting, the Board of Supervisors reviewed a Fire Services Study presented by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

According to the township, the study evaluated fire protection services in East Manchester Township, Manchester Borough and Mount Wolf Borough. It identified strengths and challenges and offered recommendations to improve the long-term sustainability of fire protection services.

The township said the study’s recommendations included identifying one fire chief who is not a member of an actual fire department and funding one fire department rather than two. It also said future discussions were needed on funding, staffing and coverage.

Background of the development

Eagle Fire Company, based at 54 Center Street in Mount Wolf, is listed by East Manchester Township as serving the eastern half of the township. Union Fire Company No. 1, based at 201 York Street in Manchester, is listed as serving the western half.

The township’s website published a resident guide on October 16, 2026 about the proposed withdrawal from Eagle Fire Company No. 1 and the township’s approach to reliable fire protection. The proposed action follows a county-supported fire services review that examined the delivery of fire protection across East Manchester Township, Manchester Borough and Mount Wolf Borough.

Prediction: How could this affect East Manchester residents?

If the township formally ends its recognition of Eagle Fire Company, residents are likely to see Union Fire Company No. 1 formally designated as the township’s primary fire service provider. In practical terms, the existing dispatch arrangement, under which Union Fire Company is sent to all township calls, would become the township’s official structure rather than a coverage measure.

For residents in the eastern part of the township, response arrangements could depend more heavily on Union Fire Company and mutual-aid departments from surrounding York County communities. Vice Chairman Darryl Albright’s reference to mutual aid indicates that neighbouring departments may continue to play a role in emergency responses.

For Mount Wolf Borough and Eagle Fire Company, the township’s proposed withdrawal could increase financial and operational pressure on a department already projecting a deficit of more than $114,000 for 2027. The final decision, expected to be considered on November 10, will determine whether the township formally changes its fire protection arrangement from January 1, 2027.