Palmerton appoints new fire chief, assistant chief
Borough Council President Terry Costenbader, center, congratulates Palmerton Municipal Fire Company Chief Jason Behler, left, and Assistant Chief Mike Kercsmar, right, who were both appointed during Thursday’s meeting. BRIAN W. MYSZKOWSKI/TIMES NEWS
A new fire chief and assistant chief were appointed to the Palmerton Municipal Fire Company during Thursday’s Borough Council meeting.
Jason Behler will take the helm as fire chief, with Mike Kercsmar serving as assistant chief.
Kercsmar has been a firefighter since the age of 14, and has previously served as a captain at the Palmerton Municipal Fire Company.
“I joined as a junior at West End at 14, and then I moved to the Municipal station when that was built. It feels good to make it to this point. I went to college for fire, so this has always kind of been my goal, to work my way up the ladder,” Kercsmar said.
Behler is taking the position of his father, Dennis, who served as chief since 2015.
“It’s a little bit of pressure, I’m not going to lie. But, I have a great group of people at the station, men and women who will do anything to make sure the place succeeds, and that’s most of the battle right there. Everything else will just fall into place, I’m sure,” said Behler, who has 28 years of firefighting experience.
