Those who have a fondness for Lehighton history, specifically the Lehighton Fire Department, can get their fix as part of round three.

The Lehighton 150 Celebration Committee will hold The History of Lehighton, Part 3, at 8 p.m. Friday on the second floor of the Lehighton Fire Station on Third Street in Lehighton.Lehighton's Sesquicentennial will occur next year. The committee wants to raise $55,000 for an eight-day celebration to commemorate the 150 years of the borough. The festivities are scheduled for June 25-July 2.This week we'll again be publishing tidbits of Lehighton history, this time with regard to the Lehighton Fire Department, in conjunction with the celebration committee.Today's facts• James M. Beisel Jr., died in the line of duty during the Duraloom Carpet Mills fire. He dispatched the alarm and was preparing the station for a response when he suffered a fatal heart attack. The Duraloom Carpet Mills Inc. plant was located at the corner of Sixth and Cypress streets. The fire raged out of control for over five hours. To honor his sacrifice and service to the Lehighton Fire Department, the 1967 American LaFrance 100-foot aerial truck was dedicated to his memory.• On Tuesday, Oct. 15, 1974, a large explosion and fire occurred at the Citgo Plant in Lehighton. At that time it was theorized that a spark from the pumper's motor may have ignited fumes. The result was a large explosion, which injured the three Lehighton firefighters and engulfed the pumper in flames.• A raging fire on Friday, March 28, 1975, destroyed nine homes in Lehighton, leaving 70 homeless, and over $100,000 in damages. The fire took place in a row of nine brick homes, located at the corner of Bridge Street and Bankway. Firefighters from Lehighton's Lehigh Fire Company No. 1 and Engine Company No. 2 responded and were led by then Fire Chief Herman Solt. The fire started in the center home and spread in both directions through a "common attic" area. This was the second major fire in Lehighton's history to take place during an Easter holiday, Good Friday.• The Lehighton Fire Department first purchased an extrication tool commonly referred to as "Jaws of Life" in 1979. The tool was made by LUKAS Rescue Systems, a German company. The cost of the new tool was $8,160. It was the first of its kind in the Lehighton Area.