Windber Fire Department, Windber Pennsylvania, USA

Windber Fire Department - Protecting the community of Windber Pennsylvania since 1899

Home About Us Volunteer Fire Safety Events Multimedia Resources

Funding Sources

The fact that the Windber Fire Department is a 100% volunteer service results in a tremendous cost savings for the residents of the community of Windber. Despite that fact, it still costs a great deal of money to fund the training, equiping, maintenance, and operation of a modern fire department. This section provides a brief explanation of where our funds are obtained from.

The WFD's budget is funded primarily through three means:

Fundraising (Ways & Means) Events
Municipal Funding, and
Donations & Contributions

Although the WFD receives $36,000 from Windber Borough annually (note: the WFD receives NO municipal funding from Paint and Ogle Townships), the majority of our budget is funded by donations from residents of our fire district and through fundraising events conducted by the WFD's 100% volunteer members. The problem with fundraising events is that they take our volunteer firefighters away from training, maintenance, and their families. For this reason, the WFD strives to hold productive fundraisers that require less of a time commitment with a greater return in income. This plan will hopefully provide the funding the department needs and decrease the burden on our members.

Occasionally, the WFD is a recipient of grants that are used for specific projects, such as the purchase of equipment. Unfortunately, the WFD applies for many more grants than we are awarded. Furthermore, these grants cannot be used to cover our operating expenses.

Fire department funding has become overwhelming with the costs of firefighting equipment rising by 15% yearly. A new fire engine costs between $300,000 and $400,000 dollars and this is without any equipment on it. With every new firefighter comes a cost of $1,500 to outfit them with the essential equipment. Fire department funding is at a critical level and needs immediate attention by all.

The Windber Fire Company #1, Inc. is appreciative of the support it recieves from Windber Borough, the Volunteer Firefighters' Relief Association, and the generous citizens of the Windber community. Without this support the fire department would not be able to provide its services to the community.

Make A Donation

The Windber Fire Company #1 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. The WFD welcomes donations of any amount and from any source; donations are used to help us maintain the high level of service that we provide to the community of Windber. For questions regarding making a donation, call us at (814)467-7111 or email us at wfd611@windberfire.org.

Donations (made payable to Windber Fire Company #1) can be sent to:
Windber Fire Company #1
1620 Somerset Ave
Windber PA 15963-1748

Secure donations can also be made using PayPal.