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Fire company reports ongoing Cherryville Road fire; new apparatus ahead of schedule
Summary
The volunteer fire company reported a persistent underground fire on Cherryville Road requiring continued resources and mutual aid; the department said the new firetruck is being completed months earlier than expected, prompting discussion about financing, storage, and lien/lease options.
The Lehigh Township volunteer fire company told supervisors April 8 that an underground fire on Cherryville Road remains active and that the department’s new firetruck is progressing faster than planned, raising questions about payment and storage if delivery occurs early.
Rick Hildebrand, speaking for the fire company, said the Cherryville Road fire has required significant manpower—146 calls in the first quarter, including 88 fire-related—and that crews have used a 4,000-gallon portable pond at the scene. The fire remains inside a containment box but continued underground heat and windy, dry days could cause it to move; the company has received mutual aid and has been monitoring the situation.
Hildebrand also reported that the ordered firetruck’s chassis and pump/ladder work are complete and the manufacturer could finish the truck seven months earlier than the timeline the department had been given. "The truck could be done as early as August or September," Hildebrand said. Board members and the fire company discussed options if the truck is completed early, including letting the vehicle sit until funds are available, entering a lien on delivery or arranging short-term lease financing.
Supervisor Cindy Miller and others urged not to halt production and suggested taking delivery with a financial arrangement such as a lien or lease to preserve the manufacturer’s production continuity. Solicitor David Backenstoe said the township could accept delivery and secure payment with a lien; he also suggested exploring a lease arrangement as an alternative.
The Board took no formal financing action at the meeting, and the fire company said it will keep supervisors informed about the Cherryville Road incident and the truck production schedule.
