Lehighton Fire Department will be dedicating its new station, as well as a new pumper and a Rescue One Connector Boat on Friday.

The dedication will begin at 6 p.m. with an open house for the public starting at 5 p.m.After the dedication, Lehighton historian Lamont "Mike" Ebbert will give a history of the fire department.On Sunday, the celebration will continue with a parade to kick off Fire Prevention Week. The parade, which will feature at least six bands as well as emergency apparatus, begins at 1 p.m. and will start and end at the Community Grove.At the grove, there will be antique fire apparatus, activities for children and a beer garden operated by Lehighton VFW Post 256."The new fire station will be dedicated to past, present and future firefighters of the borough of Lehighton and to the residents whom we protect," said Steven Ebbert, building committee chairman.The main apparatus bay of the fire station will be dedicated to former Fire Chief John "Jack" Kuller Jr., who advocated such a project over 20 years ago. Kuller died unexpectedly on April 22, 2011, never getting to see his dream become reality.Chief Patrick Mriss said, "This project began with the comprehensive plan for the borough of Lehighton in 1994. It planned for a consolidation of the two existing fire stations. In that comprehensive plan, the inadequate space for storing fire apparatus and equipment was noted as a major problem."Ebbert said the building committee was organized by fire department volunteers in spring 2009.The committee consisted of 13 members including Ebbert, Mriss, Former Fire Chief Gary Frable, Assistant Fire Chief Michael Mriss, Rodney Rehnert, Doug Nothstein, Larry Diehl, Dan Oswald, Jason Nothstein, Joe Flickinger and Scott Nothstein.Ebbert and Lehighton Borough Manager Nicole Beckett coordinating the construction.Chief Mriss said, "The greatest benefit of this project is that the firefighters have a safer working environment."For the first time in the department's history, the firefighters have a locker room and shower area. A classroom/meeting room, multiple bathroom facilities for male and female firefighters and a lounging area are included.Photos depicting the history of the fire department decorate the walls, including photos of former chiefs, pictures of major fires, apparatus pictures and parades."We're always looking for photos," Ebbert said.He thanks elected officials for support.Former Speaker of the House Keith McCall met with borough officials and Kuller. McCall's efforts got the borough a $1.5 million grant for the project. State Sen. John Yudichak, D-Luzerne/Carbon, secured an additional $250,000 grant. Yudichak and State Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon, also helped to obtain an additional $223,650 grant.The borough also added a small tax to provide the matching funds for the project with the intention to remove that tax increase when the project is paid in full.Lehigh Fire Company No. 1, the social club of the fire department, which routinely provides the department with financial assistance, played a major role in the project by purchasing and donating properties between the two older firehouses that existed. These purchased properties, valued at $216,000, were turned over to the borough and then demolished to allow for the project to move forward.The new station connects the Lehigh Fire Company No. 1 building, which had previously been the main fire station, with the building that had housed the former Engine Company No. 2.The new station has five bays.The station, featured in the national trade magazine, "Firehouse," with a two-page layout, was designed by H2M architects of New Jersey. Alvin H. Butz Inc. of Allentown was hired as the construction management firm.Ground was broken on April 11, 2013. It became occupied early in 2014.The new pumper, constructed by KME Fire Apparatus of Nesquehoning, will be dedicated in memory of former Fire Chief Herman Solt. Solt was a member of Engine Company No. 2 and served during the 1970s.The new pumper is capable of pumping 1,500 gallons-per-minute and will have a 500-gallon water tank. It is replacing a 1994 pumper that was also built by KME.The new rescue boat will be dedicated in the memory of the former Captain William "Billy" Beck, known for water rescue training and SCUBA diving. He was instrumental in organizing the current dive team of the fire department.Chief Mriss said presently the fire department has about 40 active members, including 15 members of the water rescue unit.