“The days of volunteerism is dwindling,” Fire Chief Todd Winder told the group.

“When I was a kid down here, there would be 35 people that would show up in a matter of three minutes and if you weren’t quick you were stuck here when the truck pulled out. Now days — I make no bones about it — it can be 10 or 15 minutes before we can get the truck to go and that’s not good for anybody. People just don’t want to do this anymore. It’s dangerous,” he continued

“Hopefully this truck will spark an interest. Anyone sitting here saying, ‘I’m too old’ or ‘I can’t do that,’ I can tell you there is a job for everyone in the volunteer fire department, even if you just come down here and take out the trash. That’s helping us,” he added.

Addressing the issue of volunteerism, Lycoming County Commissioner Scott Metzger said, “volunteerism is the heart of the community.”

“It is so important that we teach our youth to volunteer and to dedicate part of their lives giving back to the community,” he told the group which included very few younger people.

Fellow County Commissioner Tony Mussare noted that he had been involved with the EMS Taskforce in Harrisburg and has spoken with many of the volunteer fire companies in the county.

“They have a very difficult job and part of that challenge is recruitment, retention, funding and equipment,” Mussare said.

He added that legislators have been presented with those challenges and have begun to take action by creating legislation to solve some of those problems.

“It is only through the dedication of the fire services here and around this county that they are being heard,” Mussare said.

Mussare also presented the fire company with a proclamation acknowledging the fire company’s anniversary.

Focusing on the challenges that the fire company faces that Mussare cited, County Commissioner Rick Mirabito said that part of those challenges is the fact that the mission of the fire company has changed since it was first incorporated in 1946 by 96 community members.

“Think back to 1946…and then think about what this fire company does today. That is really the challenge and the paradox for the legislature, for the elected officials, for the volunteers is to figure how to get out of what has changed historically,” Mirabito said.

“For example, this fire company provides service and protection, in addition to putting out house fires, for an electrical plant, a sewage treatment plant, agricultural farms, heavy industries, natural gas and petroleum pipelines, a railroad line, a major section of a state highway, a large section of the state forest, 17 miles of the Susquehanna River, a state women’s prison, a public school, a private airport, a municipal golf course, an Amish community and landfill and recycling center,” Mirabito said.

He noted that on top of all that, the fire company handles about 600 calls for fire, rescue and ambulance services per year.

Cory Bierly, left, secretary of the fire company and Todd Winder, chief, stand beside the new pumper truck that had just rolled into the Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Company. The new truck will be able to carry all of the equipment that was previously carried on two vehicles

After reading the names of some of the past fire chiefs, Mirabito added, “as we face the struggles of declining population as my colleagues mentioned, I think it is especially important to thank all of you who are mentoring the young people and 75 years from now we will be reading the names of the people who have carried on that tradition.”

Congressman Fred Keller (PA-12), who was on hand to present the fire company with a recognition from Congress on the company’s 75 years of service to the community, commended the volunteer firefighters who are “willing to step up, to put on that uniform, to get on that piece of machinery or apparatus and come and help us, whether it’s an ambulance, a tanker or fire truck or pumper.”

“We’re very blessed to have some great community members who answer that call when people are in need,” Keller said.

The new fire truck which arrived at the fire hall following the comments from the officials. A custom 2021 Sutphen Fire Rescue Pumper Truck, the truck will be able to hold eight firefighters instead of five and will be the “first out” engine, providing the maximum utility in rescue equipment, a 900-gallon water tank, lighting and a large hose bed, among other things, according to a release from the fire company. The new pumper will be able to carry all of the equipment that was previously carried on the two older vehicles.

Winder noted that the pumper cost just over $574,000. The last new truck the company purchased in 1994 cost $205,000 and is still in service.

“That’s more fundraisers than any volunteer fire department can handle,” Winder said.

He shared that the Brady Township Supervisors provided some funds and the Clinton Township Supervisors have pledged $250,000 over ten years towards the cost of the pumper.

Also attending the celebration were Clinton Township Supervisors, Pat Dietrick and Lanny Wertz and Arnie Kriner, a member of Sen.Gene Yaw’s staff.