Township makes truck payment on behalf of East Huntingdon's cash-strapped fire department

East Huntingdon Fire Chief Brian Kite knew $61,000 was a lot of money to request from the township.

But the department’s $61,000 annual fire truck payment was looming.

With several months worth of canceled fundraisers and a firemen’s club ordered closed by the state, the money was going to otherwise be hard to come by. The department has lost at least that much this year as a result of limits on gathering sizes and social distancing mandates handed down by state officials in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, Kite said.

So, he and the department president asked.

And township supervisors said yes.

“Without the bat of an eye, ‘Sure thing,’” Kite said. “I was hoping so and they didn’t even hesitate.”

Fire departments across the region have gotten creative with fundraising during the last few months, but they still are reeling from tens of thousands in lost revenue. Some fundraisers moved online while firefighters are coming up with novel ways to bring in cash to keep up with regular monthly expenses, as well as the unexpected ones. Many fundraisers have been canceled altogether.

Another blow was dealt in mid-July as Gov. Tom Wolf ordered bars and nightclubs to close. The East Huntingdon Township Firemen’s Club has been shuttered ever since. It reopened in June for about five weeks after being shut down since mid-March when the pandemic first took hold locally.

Profits from the club are directed to the department.

Board Chairman Joel Suter said he and fellow supervisors Paul Hodgkiss and Justin Morrow know how important the department is to protecting the township.

“We figured that was one way we could help them through this crisis,” Suter said.

The township also will foot the bill for keeping its sole fire department’s trucks fueled up. Kite said diesel fuel costs between $1,000 and $1,500 each month.

Suter said the township regularly helps the department with costs, including an annual stipend that averages between $35,000 and $50,000. East Huntingdon is about 34 square miles and has grown over the years from a rural municipality to one with industry, businesses and residential development.

Without the township’s extra help, Kite said volunteer firefighters would have had to come up with more ways to raise money for the rescue pumper payment.

“This is greatly appreciated from our supervisors,” he said. “Now, if anything else comes up, there’s funds there.”

“It’s actually the people of the community who have done this,” Kite said.

The state is offering $44 million in grants for fire departments in light of the losses. An additional $6 million was set aside for EMS agencies. Kite said the department still needs donations and plans to hold its annual fund drive in October.