Doubt surrounding the future of Towamensing Volunteer Fire Company abounded last summer. The volunteer roster was shrinking, and some thought its dissolution was imminent.

But after nearly a year of rebuilding, Towamensing Supervisor Guy Seifert officially put closing rumors to rest.

“Fire company’s more viable today than we’ve seen in probably a year,” Seifert said at a township meeting Thursday, adding that it’s seen more active and experienced members join over the past few months. The company’s business meetings have also grown.

“All those rumors that the company’s going down the tubes - isn’t there,” Seifert said. “Company’s still viable, and it’s moving forward.”

Towamensing supervisors enacted a protocol last July that enlisted the help of three other area fire companies - from Polk Township, Franklin Township and Aquashicola - for all emergency calls in the township. The agreement, which faced opposition from some Towamensing fire members, was the result of declining volunteerism at the company on Firehouse Road.

But supervisors defended the move as necessary for township residents’ safety.

“Our duty as supervisors is to make sure that our residents are protected in the event of an emergency,” then supervisor Penny Kleintop said last summer. “That’s all we care about.”

Towamensing Volunteer Fire Company has since appointed a new chief, Steve Riggio. Eric George, fire company president, also recently informed supervisors that in the face of fundraiser cancellations caused by COVID-19, the apparatus is looking into recouping material costs used for rescues through insurance companies.

A similar ordinance was recently picked up by Bowmanstown, allowing the borough’s own fire company to charge user fees to insurance carriers in certain responses.

“It helps fund the fire company for what they’re responding to,” Mayor Zachary Snyder said in reference to the new policy last March.

“They’re not collecting a salary. They’re still a volunteer service, but essentially, they’re being reimbursed for what they’re using.”

According to the Towamensing Volunteer Fire Company website, the company’s coverage spans almost 30 square miles. The apparatus held its first meeting in 1946, acquiring the land for its building about one year later.

The company responds to an average of 100 calls per year.