In front of a capacity crowd, the Eldred Township Supervisors breathed a sigh of relief after hearing a report from the Kunkletown Fire Department that it boasted a 54 percent increase in the number of active firefighters in the past 60 days. The roster has grown from six volunteers to 13 active volunteers.

Of the seven new members, all but three have firefighting experience and training.The three new members, considered probationary and/or junior members, are currently undergoing the necessary training.The department had agreed to a 60-day observation period, where neighboring departments were automatically dispatched to assist Kunkletown due their dwindling number of volunteers.Gary Hoffman, director of the Monroe County Communications Center, and active member of the Kunkletown Fire Department, was on hand to provide data regarding calls for assistance placed to the fire department in the past 60 days."Kunkletown Fire Department was dispatched 20 times in the past 60 days and they have responded on every call," Hoffman said.He further reported that they also responded on calls in other areas as part of their existing mutual aid agreement.Hoffman, who also serves as the Emergency Management Coordinator for Eldred Township, advised the supervisors that he feels comfortable in recommending that the Kunkletown Fire Department return to its former arrangement where mutual aid is automatically requested during the hours of 6 a.m. through 6 p.m., which is the normal procedure in the majority of the county.In other business, state Representative Jack Rader Jr. was on hand to inform the community that he or a staff member from his office would be on hand at the township municipal building the second Wednesday of the month to assist citizens with any issues. The scheduled times for this assistance is from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.