Pa. Fire Chief Declares Department Strong, Staying Put

JACKSON TWP. — Although Jackson Township’s ambulance company will cease to exist in May, the township’s fire department is still going strong.

In February, Jackson Township Ambulance Association officials gave notice that the organization would be dissolving after 45 years of serving township residents. Ambulance Capt. Tom Lewis cited a lack of volunteers and increasing state requirements were the main reasons why.

But, Jackson Township Fire Chief Dan Manzoni said at Monday night’s supervisors meeting, “The fire department is not going out of business.”

In fact, the fire department, which leased space in its building to the ambulance association, will be starting its fund drive in May, he said.

Back Mountain Regional Fire and Emergency Medical Services, which was formed in 2013 through a merger of Lehman Township and Dallas’ fire and ambulance companies, now provides Jackson Township’s advanced and basic life support, with Kunkle Fire & Ambulance Rescue as backup for basic life support.

Manzoni said residents who have memberships with the Jackson Township Ambulance Association will be “grandfathered in” with Back Mountain Regional, and should be getting a letter on the subject.

Resident Ed Chesnovitch said he was “totally impressed” with the new regional ambulance service, but asked what would happen with the Jackson Township Ambulance Association’s assets. Manzoni said that under the bylaws, they go to the township’s fire department.

In other business, the supervisors accepted the resignation of township engineer Greg Supey, and hired Joseph Fedorchak as a part-time seasonal road worker at a rate of $10.27 per hour.

In response to resident Sharon Ellsworth’s question about when roads in the Woodridge I development would be repaved — she said they are “terrible” and “really deteriorating” — supervisor Chairman John Wilkes Jr. said work was not completed or, in some cases, even started because of the extreme winter weather conditions. But the township does have money set aside for repairs to the roads, Supervisor Al Fox said.

[email protected], 570-821-2072

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