On July 6, our family experienced an electrical fire in the basement of our house and we were forced to evacuate. We never thought that this could ever happen to us.

However, this event brought together our neighborhood and showed how people work with one another in crisis situations. Our neighbors gave us a place to stay during the event and provided much-needed moral support.

The Lehighton Fire department and neighboring fire companies from Franklin and Mahoning worked together to control the fire and kept it confined to the basement. All of the firefighters are to be praised for their efforts. It was very obvious that they were prepared for these situations.

If it would not have been for the Lehighton Fire department’s smoke alarm program, we may not have had the good fortune of surviving the fire. I beg anyone reading this letter to contact the Lehighton Fire department now and have smoke alarms installed. It is free to all residents of Lehighton. It is a no-brainer. Thank God we did it in February of this year.

Again, we thank all our neighbors, friends and especially Father Mike for their support.

Marge and Lynn Solt,

Lehighton