A four-division parade on Sunday in Lehighton was held as part of the dedication celebration of a $4 million fire station, new pumper and new rescue boat of the Lehighton Fire Department.

Taking part in the march, held under sunny skies with mild temperatures, were fire departments from Carbon, Schuylkill, Lehigh and Northampton counties.There were five marching bands in the line of march as well as two marching fire department units.The actual dedication was held Friday night for the fire station, a 2015 KME pumper and a Rescue One Connector Boat. The boat is used by the fire department's specially trained water rescue squad.In addition to the parade, a festival kicking off Fire Prevention Week was held at the Lehighton Community Grove.A highlight during the parade was the placement of a wreath at the Firefighter's Monument at the Upper Borough Park in Lehighton. The City of Bethlehem Bagpipe Band played "Amazing Grace" and taps at the ceremony.About 40 members of the Lehighton Fire Department clad in navy uniforms and wearing shirts with ties marched in the parade. Behind the marchers were Lehighton Fire Chief Patrick Mriss followed by Assistant Chief Michael Mriss. Behind them were former fire chiefs Gary Frable and Wayne Nothstein.Another former chief, Edward Conarty Jr., drove the fire department's multipurpose pickup.Also taking part in the march were Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, high school bands, the Panther Valley High School JROTC unit, and several other organizations.At the Community Grove festival, the Mahoning Valley Fire Company had its fire extinguisher training unit to teach youngsters the proper method of using the devices. A digital flame appeared and the children "doused" it with water squirted from the extinguisher.A mechanical bull was also present as were other activities.A special attraction was antique fire apparatus on display, including a 1936 restored pumper of the Mahoning Valley Fire Company and a 1950s aerial unit by the Schuylkill County Antique Fire Historical Society.Steve Ebbert, chairman of the Fire Department Building Committee, said he was pleased with the weekend of events, including the dedication Friday held in steady rain."It was a great success," Ebbert said.He was pleased the skies cleared for the parade.Of the festival, Ebbert said, "Many of the community's groups were able to make a profit in a fundraising effort." These groups sold various items including soft pretzels."We're proud of the community support, and very pleased with the amount of people who came to watch the parade."Nothstein, a former fire chief and chairman of the Carbon County Board of Commissioners, agreed."The support was great by the community," Nothstein said.