Our Team

Covering the largest Fire District in the Township, The Gladwyne Fire Company protects 4.9 miles inside Lower Merion. From Gladwyne Elementary School to the Philadelphia Country Club, our volunteers respond to the calls at any given moment.

The nucleus of our Company is our forty volunteers. Ranging in age from 16 to 65, our men and women sacrifice holidays, family events and in some cases sleep to serve the Community in which they live. Members are required to complete firefighting courses at the Montgomery County Fire Academy. Locally, we train each Wednesday night in order to effectively operate together as a team at our Township’s training grounds in Penn Valley.

Among the active brigade, the Gladwyne Fire Company employs three full-time Engineers. The three are required to operate all trucks and maintenance both the apparatus and fire station. Staffing the firehouse 24-hours a day, there is always at least one “houseman” on duty for the Gladwyne residents.

Like any successful organization, leadership plays a key role in our successes at Gladwyne. Elected in 2012, Chief Blaine Leis is tasked with complete control of operations at the Fire Company. Leis is assisted by his five assistant chiefs who delegate responsibility and on scene incident command. All positions are elected once every two years.

The Board of Directors, elected by the community, elects a president, a treasurer, a secretary and several vice presidents. Each member serves on several committees. The Board meets monthly, and committees meet as needed. They operate under a set of bylaws, and in cooperation with the Lower Merion Township Fire Office, Police and Commissioners.

Any person or business contributing $25 or more to the Company fund drive, becomes a member and receives eligibility to vote in the election of Board Members at the annual meeting in January.