Oct. 03, 2022
UPPER MILFORD TOWNSHIP – During Upper Milford Township’s Community Day Celebration, Rep. Milou Mackenzie (R-Lehigh/Montgomery/Northampton) and Sen. Pat Browne (R-16) announced a $485,000 state grant has been secured for the Upper Milford Western District Fire Company #1.
Mackenzie and Browne secured these funds through the 2022-23 state budget.
“It has been an absolute honor during my first term as state representative to work alongside Sen. Pat Browne on securing the funding for the Upper Milford Western District Fire Company’s new equipment,” Mackenzie said. “I know that the senator and I are both extremely grateful to all of the heroic firefighters who contribute so selflessly to the safety of the citizens in our districts.”
“Day-in and day-out, the commitment and dedication displayed by our local firefighters is nothing short of extraordinary,” Browne said. “As legislators, it is our duty to ensure that our local departments have the tools necessary to carry out their important mission. I am pleased to have worked with Rep. Milou Mackenzie to secure these funds so that the Upper Milford Western District Fire Company can continue to offer its exceptional level of service to the surrounding community.”
The department is in desperate need of replacing its aging 1990 International Tanker. The vehicle, which the department acquired in 1991, has served the company for 31 years and has outlived its useful life. The truck will be replaced with a new 3,500-gallon tanker, which will have a 2,000 gallon-per-minute pump capacity and meet the most up-to-date safety standards.
“The fire department has had the need to replace this tanker truck for quite some time,” explained Kevin Kleinsmith, Upper Milford Western District Fire Company secretary and lead on the truck replacement project. “The members of the Upper Milford Western District Fire Company cannot thank Sen. Browne and Rep. Mackenzie enough for the work they did in helping us with this funding. It takes the department a long time to raise this kind of money for a new truck and we greatly appreciate what they have done for us and the residents of Upper Milford.”
The state grant secured by Mackenzie and Browne serves as the final funds necessary for the purchase of the new truck.
The new truck is estimated to be delivered in late 2024 or early 2025 and is expected to serve the residents of Upper Milford Township and surrounding areas for the next 25 years or more.
Across the Commonwealth, local government and fire department budgets have struggled to accommodate the growing demands placed upon their locally provided services. These issues have been compounded due to budgetary and fundraising disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Protecting homes and properties since 1942, Upper Milford Western District Fire Co., commonly known as Old Zionsville Fire Department Station 19, is a 100% volunteer organization, with 30 firefighters and fire police. Serving Upper Milford Township along with Citizens Fire Company in Vera Cruz, they also lend mutual aid support to neighbors in Hereford, Seisholtzville, Macungie, Lower Milford and Emmaus. The fire department responds to around 100 calls per year.
Sen. Pat Browne
Media Contact: Matt Szuchyt
(610) 821-8468
mszuchyt@pasen.gov
Upper Milford Fire Company
Media Contact: Kevin Kleinsmith
(484) 239-5572
kevmk67@ptd.net
Rep. Milou Mackenzie
131st Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Katie Park
717.885.3846
kpark@pahousegop.com
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