HELLERTOWN, Pa. — Borough Council on Monday took the first formal step toward changing the community's fire protection provider, a move that could end more than a century of service from Dewey Fire Company.
Council unanimously authorized its solicitor to prepare a draft ordinance and service agreement that would designate Lower Saucon Fire Rescue as the borough's officially recognized fire company.
Lower Saucon Fire Rescue currently operates four stations – Se-Wy-Co, Steel City, Leithsville and Southeastern – and responded to more than 865 emergency incidents in 2025, according to its website.
The department also is one of 66 fire departments in Pennsylvania to receive the Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner's 75% Participating Department Recognition. It signifies that at least 75% of a fire department's active personnel hold professional national or state certifications, such as Firefighter I or II.
The potential change comes months after borough officials raised property taxes to help stabilize Dewey Fire Company, citing concerns over staffing and the long-term sustainability of volunteer fire service.
'Reliable and uninterrupted' fire protection
In January, council approved a 1.5-mill tax increase, including a 1-mill increase dedicated to fire services, to fund a daytime-staffing incentive program aimed at improving response times.
Will Oliver
The funds were described as critical to help the fire department stay sustainable and protect life and property in the borough.
At the time, borough officials said Dewey's "scratch rate" — the percentage of emergency calls where the company could not respond — had increased from 2% in 2021 to 12% in 2024. The volunteer company also reported it had 17 senior interior-qualified firefighters and said it was in "desperate need of volunteers."
The incentive program was designed to place a rotating crew of three or four firefighters at the station during weekday daytime hours, when volunteer staffing has traditionally been most difficult. Officials said the program would help the company meet recommended response times while providing additional support as it worked to recruit and retain volunteers.
But council members said Monday those efforts had not resolved the broader challenges facing the department.
Council President Lynley Solt read a statement saying the borough must consider a change to provide "reliable and uninterrupted" fire protection for residents and businesses.
Solt cited ongoing operational challenges at Dewey Fire Company, including declining volunteer participation, difficulties maintaining leadership and operational continuity, and continued recruitment challenges despite outreach efforts.
She said the borough intends to work collaboratively with both Dewey Fire Company and Lower Saucon Fire Rescue throughout any potential transition while honoring Dewey's more than 100 years of service to the community.
Any change would apply only to fire protection services. Dewey would continue providing emergency medical services to the borough, officials said.
'Many-month conversation to move forward'
Council members emphasized that Monday's vote was only an initial step and that no agreement has been finalized. The action allows the solicitor to begin preparing draft documents, with additional discussions expected in the coming months.
Councilman Tom Rieger said the potential transition should not be viewed as a "hostile takeover" but as the beginning of a heavily collaborative process involving all parties.
"This is mutual conversations amongst all parties," Rieger said, emphasizing those conversations “have been ongoing for a very long time.”
"This kicks off a many-month conversation to move forward,” he said.
Solt said 15 to 20 officials from Hellertown and Lower Saucon Township — including township council members, the solicitor and township manager — along with representatives from Dewey Fire Company and Lower Saucon Fire Rescue participated in an initial meeting about the potential change.
Hellertown ultimately was directed to continue discussions directly with Lower Saucon Fire Rescue regarding a possible service agreement, she said.
Councilman Larry O'Donnell said the situation is complicated by the fact that Dewey Fire Company is an independent nonprofit organization.
"I think it's important for people to remember that the Dewey Fire Company is a separate nonprofit and not directly controlled by the borough," O'Donnell said, calling it a “complex issue.”
"We contract for professional services with Dewey Fire as we do with other nonprofits,” he said, while noting the challenges facing volunteer fire departments extend well beyond Hellertown.
"Volunteer-everything is reaching critical points in a lot of sectors, and the fire departments are definitely hit very hard," he said.
Rieger said the issue is not about which municipality a firefighter serves; it’s about ensuring the community has enough people willing to respond to an emergency.
"Regardless of if you live in the township or the borough, if you want to be a firefighter, they're all practicing right now," Rieger said. "Doesn't matter where you do it; it matters that you do it, and I think that's what we're losing as a community."
Solt said council expects to have a more detailed discussion about the potential transition at one of its September meetings.
Calls to the offices of both Dewey and Lower Saucon Fire Rescue were not immediately returned Tuesday.
Communities across the Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania have struggled with rising costs and a shortage of volunteers. The state estimates volunteer firefighter levels have dropped by approximately 92% over the last 50 years, from 360,000 to 30,000.
The future of fire and EMS service in the Lehigh Valley will be the focus of Lehigh Valley Public Media's next Community Conversation at 6 p.m. Aug. 27. The program will bring together local fire chiefs, union leaders, volunteer firefighters and state officials to discuss the challenges facing emergency services, efforts to recruit the next generation of firefighters, and what communities can do to help ensure fire and EMS services remain strong for years to come. Additional details will be announced as they become available.