LOWER SAUCON TWP., Pa. — Lower Saucon Fire Rescue has $235,000 heading its way following a unanimous vote from township council Wednesday.
That includes annual donations of $225,000 and an added $10,000 for recruitment and retention.
Incidents requiring township volunteer fire services have more than doubled in the past seven years, but department finances are in good shape, according to fire rescue officials.
Fire Chief Tyson Johnson said that 2016 saw 407 incidents, while 2023 saw 868, citing official department records and a slideshow provided to township council.
“We’re on a pretty uphill climb here. … If you would break it down into percentage now, we’re not gaining as many members as we’re going up in calls."Lower Saucon Fire Rescue Chief Tyson Johnson
Of the total in 2023, nearly a quarter were rescue and EMS-related, more than 10% included actual fires, while severe weather only made up about 1%.
Of 868 cases, 527 took place in the township.
“We’re on a pretty uphill climb here,” Johnson said.
“If you would break it down into percentage now, we’re not gaining as many members as we’re going up in calls.
“The folks that have been on board since 2016 when we did our operational merge are picking up more and more calls.”
When you call 911
Lower Saucon Fire Rescue President Scott Krycia said that when someone calls 911, the information is put into a computer-aided dispatch system that then pages the fire department before personnel head to the scene.
Following the call, the county keeps a log listing trucks on scene and radio traffic, for example, which later is sent along to LSFR.
The township fire team has two volunteers who later add narrative details of their own in the report, followed by quality control measures from Krycia and Deputy Fire Chief Eric Billimoria.
LSFR presence in surrounding areas
Upper Saucon Township sends a $1,000 check annually for fire services assistance, Krycia said.
In 2023, there were 49 incidents in that township to the south, documents show.
Councilman Thomas Carocci asked about cases in nearby Hellertown.
Dewey Fire Company serves the neighboring borough, which saw 120 incidents requiring assistance from LSFR in 2023.
The township department gives to and receives mutual aid from such companies as Dewey, Johnson said.
As Carocci was talking, Council Vice Chairwoman Laura Ray tried to chime in with a case example of that aid.
“I’m not done yet,” Carroci said to Ray.
“I was talking and you’re interrupting me. … Very rude, very rude.”
For reported incidents in 2023 requiring department presence, Lower Saucon Fire Rescue responded to 49 in Upper Saucon, 120 in Hellertown and 102 in Fountain Hill.
The provided slideshow shows Fountain Hill had 102 incidents requiring LSFR presence.
Carocci then asked Johnson if he knew what percentage of Fountain Hill property was owned by St. Luke’s University Health Network, since LSFR has responded to calls there a number of times but reportedly isn’t reimbursed for the efforts.
Johnson said he wasn’t sure.
“You used to be sure,” Carocci responded.
“I was never sure, Tom,” Johnson said.
The chief said Fountain Hill, starting this year, has taken LSFR off automatic alarm notifications, requiring their presence only in the case of major incidents such as structure fires.
He later said St. Luke’s had bought a fire truck for the department two years ago.
Department finances
The provided LSFR financial analysis showed $3,200 in net income for 2023, not accounting for a four-year, $265,000 Federal Emergency Management Agency grant for recruitment and retention that’s still undetermined.
Budgeted expenses were $1.067 million, but the year only saw about $802,000 in actual spending.
Krycia attributed that to steadfast spending control from department leadership.
“I believe they were trying to paint a picture of poverty here for the fire department, for the volunteer fire services that we have in the township — and nothing can be further from the truth."Lower Saucon Township Councilman Jason Banonis, speaking on the Democratic council majority
Councilman Jason Banonis said the Democratic majority of council hiked the fire services tax when it approved a real estate tax increase back in January.
“I believe they were trying to paint a picture of poverty here for the fire department, for the volunteer fire services that we have in the township," Banonis said of the council majority.
"And nothing can be further from the truth.”
He cited financial forms showing LSFR net assets and funding in 2022 were $3.857 million. He also said total contributions received in government grants and gifts were double that of 2021.
'Regrettable'
Three minutes of chaos ensued across the panel after Banonis asked about the status of a Polk Valley fire headquarters still in the discussion phase.
Banonis and Carocci insisted it was “regrettable” that council’s fire services liaisons Ray and Victoria Opthof-Cordaro haven’t relayed any new information on the headquarters project to the rest of the panel after monthly meetings in 2024.
“Nothing really has been presented that has to take any kind of great measures at this point. So I’m sure once we get to that point, hopefully they’ve discussed it with the rest of council.”Lower Saucon Fire Rescue Chief Tyson Johnson, speaking on a new fire department headquarters
“Nothing really has been presented that has to take any kind of great measures at this point,” Johnson said of the project.
“So I’m sure once we get to that point, hopefully they’ve discussed it with the rest of council.”
Banonis said he appreciated LSFR’s volunteerism, but he didn’t want services to be held back because of the current panel majority.
