Support for firefighters

I see in tonight’s paper that help for our volunteer, unpaid, Lehighton Fire Department has been voted down.

A slight increase in my taxes is little enough to pay for what they do for us, considering the personal time, work and hours and hours of training, and the expense and upkeep of the fine equipment they need.

As for the equipment, the prices are so great that I can’t even comprehend them, let alone, try to raise the money for them. Then, to top it off, these wonderful, hardworking, very dedicated volunteers, worked and planned for years to build the grand building they now have, I’ve been given to know that recently, during a very cold time, they fought a fire in Lehighton, facing frozen hoses, possible falls on ice, and other dangers unimaginable to the rest of us citizens, we, who sit here in the comfort and safety of our homes while they are out braving the most awful cold while fighting a fierce fire and then when it’s all over, they must try to thaw out and clean those big, frozen, heavy hoses, and now I also realize they no longer have the room to do this because part of their fine new building is no longer theirs to use, and our elected officials don’t want to add 1 mill to our taxes for equipment for these dedicated, unpaid volunteers?

Perhaps 2 mills would be closer to what they need and deserve, or do you think the residents would rather PAY the fire department and their volunteers? I think we’d not be able to afford them.

I am proud of and support all our military personnel, police departments, fire departments, both volunteer and paid, emergency personnel, and all others who are out there working to help and protect the rest of us who are either too young, too old, or otherwise unable or unwilling to do those difficult and dangerous jobs.

I wonder how others feel about this subject.

Ruthann Schlecht

Lehighton