Fire Company Hosting Town Hall Q&A April 14

Residents of Lower Saucon Township are invited to attend an upcoming town hall question-and-answer session about a proposed expansion of Lower Saucon Fire Rescue’s cost recovery program, which allows for reimbursement for some of the expenses that are incurred when it responds to incidents by billing insurance carriers.

Lower Saucon Fire Rescue President Scott Krycia said the volunteer company currently bills for reimbursement from insurance companies when it responds to vehicle accidents, such as one that occurred recently on I-78. In that accident involving a tractor-trailer hauling blue jean dye, Krycia said LSFR equipment and apparel sustained approximately $15,000 in damage it has billed for. The program’s expansion would enable it to do the same when it responds to building fires in the community.

Krycia explained that in most cases, this is coverage that is already mandatory for purchasers of property insurance policies.

If no insurance claim is filed, LSFR would not seek to recover costs related to its response to an incident, he added.

Krycia said the fire company wants the program expanded because of increased operating costs, some of which are due to unfunded mandates such as the conversion from traditional to encrypted radio communication devices. The new radios cost up to $12,000 each. Some money is generated by the township’s fire tax and additional revenue comes in the form of grants, but the latter isn’t guaranteed. Krycia said costs have been rising steeply. He cited a fire truck LSFR has on order that is now expected to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars more than its original purchase price due to the expected impact of tariffs on material imports.

In addition to an ordinance that would expand the fire company’s cost recovery program, Lower Saucon Township Council is also expected to vote on an ordinance to establish a fire service executive committee in the near future. The committee as proposed would include the LSFR president and fire chief, the township manager or a designee, two township council members and two citizens at-large. Among its proposed tasks would be the development of a strategic fire services plan, development of standards for response times and volunteer staffing, and participation in LSFR’s annual budget proceedings.

Draft versions of both proposed ordinances are available on the township’s website.

More information will be available at the question and answer session, which will be held Monday, April 14 from 6 to 7:15 p.m. at the Leithsville Social Hall, 1995 Leithsville Road, Hellertown.

The next Lower Saucon Township Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Lower Saucon Town Hall, 3700 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bethlehem. Meetings are held in-person and livestreamed on the township’s YouTube channel.