HELLERTOWN, Pa. — The borough on Monday swore in Matthew Simkovic as the newest assistant chief for its volunteer-run Dewey Fire Company.
Simkovic, who took the oath alongside his wife and two children, joined the department in 2016 and served as chief from 2021-23.
He will replace John Delmore, who plans to move but will continue helping with the department as needed, according to his father, Fire Chief Rick Delmore.
Addressing Borough Council, Chief Delmore also shared a third-quarter report showing 378 department responses from Jan. 1-Sept. 30.
Rescue and emergency medical services took up 24%, hazardous conditions with no fire 11% and fires 8%.
"Some good things are going to be coming there, and they all seem very excited."Dewey Fire Co. Chief Rick Delmore, on bringing back the fire company auxiliary support
The company, which reportedly just got its ladder truck back after it was out of service for a month, is on track for 500 responses this year, Delmore said.
Dewey also brought back its fire company auxiliary after 30 years or so, Delmore said, with 10 volunteers set to assist marketing and fundraising efforts.
"Some good things are going to be coming there, and they all seem very excited,” Delmore said.
'In desperate need for volunteers'
The fire company is made up of 17 senior/interior qualified members (eight of those qualified to drive company apparatus), five probationary/support members, five junior members and 10 auxiliary members.
“We are in desperate need of volunteers. We will be engaged in multiple recruitment events in the community. We are working on several different strategies to recruit more volunteers.”Dewey Fire Co. third-quarter chief's report
“We are in desperate need of volunteers,” the chief’s report reads. “We will be engaged in multiple recruitment events in the community.
“We are working on several different strategies to recruit more volunteers.”
Dewey Fire Company was awarded $221,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for replacement of self-contained breathing apparatus.
And after submitting applications in May, the department is waiting on two grant awards for 10 sets of protective gear each.
The borough on Monday also approved its preliminary budget for 2026 with no proposed change to the millage rate.
That spending plan is subject to change.
