Allentown fire chief says grants will fund sprinkler and alarm upgrades as department cites staffing and equipment needs
November 05, 2025 | Allentown City, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
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Fire Chief Efren Agosto briefed council on the Allentown Fire Department’s operational profile and budget changes for fiscal 2026 and described two federal grants that will pay for sprinkler and alarm upgrades at older fire stations.
The chief said the department includes 143 firefighters across six stations, operates seven engines and two ladder trucks, and has specialized teams for hazardous materials, bomb squad, underwater recovery and technical rescue. “The Allentown Fire Department consists of 143 firefighters operating out of 6 fire stations, 1 fire training academy, and an emergency operation center,” Chief Efren Agosto said (00:12:14).
Why it matters: The chief said the department is responding to increasing demand—about 12,500 calls so far this year and an anticipated near‑term rise toward 15,000—and described long‑term staffing levels that are below historical norms. He urged the council to consider continued support for staffing, fleet and equipment to meet growth and major events.
Budget highlights and equipment accounts: Chief Agosto said premium pay in the department has risen and cited a premium‑pay line increase in the $2.5 million to $2.6 million range tied to staffing for community events and other duties. He also said lease payments for apparatus will now be budgeted under the fire department’s account (rentals numbered around $1,025,113) and that the equipment fund was split into two accounts: one for smaller department assets and one for capital equipment over $5,000 (00:14:00).
Grants for sprinkler and alarm systems: The clerk read Bill 80, an appropriation of $388,000 from a FEMA/Department of Homeland Security Assistance Grant to purchase and install sprinkler systems in fire stations; Chief Agosto said the funding will bring four older stations up to current code and improve firefighter safety. The clerk then read Bill 82, a $76,600 grant to purchase and install fire alarm systems required to monitor sprinklers and notify dispatch (00:51:34; 00:53:30). Chief Agosto explained the two grants were awarded back‑to‑back and both are needed because sprinkler installations must be monitored by an alarm system to meet dispatching and monitoring requirements.
Votes at a glance: During the meeting, a councilmember moved and Miss Mona seconded motions to send both Bill 80 and Bill 82 to council favorably. No roll‑call vote tally was recorded on the transcript; the motions were seconded and the items were advanced for council consideration (00:53:16; 00:54:20).
Staffing and historical context: Agosto compared current staffing to 2012 and earlier decades, noting the department currently runs with fewer personnel than in some past years despite population growth and higher call volumes. “So for me, I always say the same thing over and over again… with the population exceeding a 125,000, the department operates with 6 man stations, 7 engines, and 2 ladder companies, and a 143 firefighters,” he said (00:15:33).
Ending: Chief Agosto thanked council for the continued emphasis on public safety and said he looks forward to working with the administration and council to restore staffing and operational capacity as the city grows (00:17:02).
Votes at a glance
Bill 80 — Supplemental appropriation of $388,000 (FEMA/DHS Assistance Grant) for sprinkler installations; motion to send to council favorably moved and seconded (no roll call recorded).
Bill 82 — Grant of $76,600 for fire alarm installations associated with sprinkler monitoring; motion to send to council favorably moved and seconded (no roll call recorded).
The chief said the department includes 143 firefighters across six stations, operates seven engines and two ladder trucks, and has specialized teams for hazardous materials, bomb squad, underwater recovery and technical rescue. “The Allentown Fire Department consists of 143 firefighters operating out of 6 fire stations, 1 fire training academy, and an emergency operation center,” Chief Efren Agosto said (00:12:14).
Why it matters: The chief said the department is responding to increasing demand—about 12,500 calls so far this year and an anticipated near‑term rise toward 15,000—and described long‑term staffing levels that are below historical norms. He urged the council to consider continued support for staffing, fleet and equipment to meet growth and major events.
Budget highlights and equipment accounts: Chief Agosto said premium pay in the department has risen and cited a premium‑pay line increase in the $2.5 million to $2.6 million range tied to staffing for community events and other duties. He also said lease payments for apparatus will now be budgeted under the fire department’s account (rentals numbered around $1,025,113) and that the equipment fund was split into two accounts: one for smaller department assets and one for capital equipment over $5,000 (00:14:00).
Grants for sprinkler and alarm systems: The clerk read Bill 80, an appropriation of $388,000 from a FEMA/Department of Homeland Security Assistance Grant to purchase and install sprinkler systems in fire stations; Chief Agosto said the funding will bring four older stations up to current code and improve firefighter safety. The clerk then read Bill 82, a $76,600 grant to purchase and install fire alarm systems required to monitor sprinklers and notify dispatch (00:51:34; 00:53:30). Chief Agosto explained the two grants were awarded back‑to‑back and both are needed because sprinkler installations must be monitored by an alarm system to meet dispatching and monitoring requirements.
Votes at a glance: During the meeting, a councilmember moved and Miss Mona seconded motions to send both Bill 80 and Bill 82 to council favorably. No roll‑call vote tally was recorded on the transcript; the motions were seconded and the items were advanced for council consideration (00:53:16; 00:54:20).
Staffing and historical context: Agosto compared current staffing to 2012 and earlier decades, noting the department currently runs with fewer personnel than in some past years despite population growth and higher call volumes. “So for me, I always say the same thing over and over again… with the population exceeding a 125,000, the department operates with 6 man stations, 7 engines, and 2 ladder companies, and a 143 firefighters,” he said (00:15:33).
Ending: Chief Agosto thanked council for the continued emphasis on public safety and said he looks forward to working with the administration and council to restore staffing and operational capacity as the city grows (00:17:02).
Votes at a glance
Bill 80 — Supplemental appropriation of $388,000 (FEMA/DHS Assistance Grant) for sprinkler installations; motion to send to council favorably moved and seconded (no roll call recorded).
Bill 82 — Grant of $76,600 for fire alarm installations associated with sprinkler monitoring; motion to send to council favorably moved and seconded (no roll call recorded).
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