Blessing of the fire truck and personnel: Dunnstown’s new apparatus is officially housed, “pushed in” to service
By Christopher Miller
DUNNSTOWN – Members of local fire departments and the community came together in Dunnstown on Saturday afternoon for a blessing of firefighters, EMT, and the new apparatus.
Assistant Fire Chief Brad Smith addressed the crowd, thanking them for coming out to be a part of “blessing the newest addition to the fleet” and for thanking the firefighters for working diligently over the past few years to design and build the new apparatus, a 2024 Pierce PUC Pumper, which eliminates the traditional “pump house” in the truck so it can be built to the needs of the fire company and not built around the pump.
“This unit has both rescue and fire suppression capabilities,” Smith said further. “A tradition with the fire service is to bless new arriving apparatus before our membership, honored guests, and above all God. On behalf of all of us at the Dunnstown Fire Company we appreciate your support.”
Central Mountain Middle School Music Teacher Rachael Karwowski was invited to sing the National Anthem.
Dunnstown Fire Chief Justin Baker spoke, informing the crowd that “this year is the 75th anniversary of the founding of Dunnstown Fire Company,” and that today the new fire truck will be housed.
The new Pierce PUC Pumper is replacing a 1995 KME that was bought brand new and has, “been on thousands of calls from fire, vehicle extrications, and specialized rescue assignments.”
“I want to thank the members of the fire department here for all of their hard work and dedication over the years, and also the residents of Woodward Township,” Chief Baker said. “150 years ago fire engines were pulled by horses, on dirt roads the horses would have their droppings and the fire trucks behind them would get dirty. When they returned to the fire house they would put the horses away and the fire truck would be all dirty, so they would clean it up and they would have to hand push it in, so we are going to continue that tradition today and hand-push it in the house today.”
Pastor Jack Hocker of The People’s United Methodist Church of Farrandsville spoke and gave the blessings to fire and EMT personnel and to the new apparatus.
“I come from a family of first responders with my father being a Police Chief in Lancaster, and then when we relocated here my father was Lock Haven City Police Chief, retiring in 2013 or 2014, but I am honored to be here and I feel the camaraderie just being amongst you,” Pastor Hocker said.
Pastor Hocker proceeded to bless all fire and EMT personnel in attendance.
“I tried to get water from as many tributaries in the area,” he explained. “I got water from Queen’s Run, Trout Run, and Lick Run, so I think that pretty much encompasses your local area. When I bless this vehicle I also hope that you don’t forget that you are blessed.”
The new Pierce PUC Pumper weighs a total of 50,000 pounds and has been in service for about two months. “It is fully equipped by Glick Fire Equipment Company, holds 500 gallons of water, holds firefighting, HAZMAT, and has items on board to extricate people from vehicles,”Deputy Chief Mike Fetzer and Assistant Chief Brad Smith said.
“The recommended life of a fire truck is 20 years, but obviously not all fire companies can meet that guideline, but we are fortunate through tax money that we are able to upgrade,” Fetzer said. “It takes about four years to build a fire truck from the ground up.”
The old apparatus will be sold, and is currently for sale with some fire companies in the southern United States looking at it and a towing company.
To become a member of Dunnstown Fire Company see a member and pick up an application. “There is an interview at the next monthly meeting, and then we will give the prospective new member a background of what we do and how things work at the fire company, we will then vote on the membership at the next monthly meeting, and then you become a member,” Assistant Chief Brad Smith said. “It is about a two month process from when you get interviewed to being accepted, then after that there are different membership status like social, or helping with events, or active for running with calls.”
“We do some in-house training, but the county has a big training package with Bucks County Community College that we follow; there are some classes you need to take before being able to run on calls, but that’s really all you need to get started.”
