Towamensing’s board of supervisors passed a new burn ban violation ordinance this week that will enforce fines upon anyone who violates a burn ban.

“This is when our fire chief and the supervisors agree on a burn ban, when it’s too dry to do any burning, this is a way that we can fine people that violate that, because it’s very dangerous,” Supervisor Penny Kleintop said.Attendees questioned where they could find any information regarding burn bans in effect.“First of all, I’m sure that the fire chief is going to have it posted at the fire company,” Kleintop said. “Our road foreman has ordered signs that are going to be put up wherever the sign says ‘Welcome to Towamensing Township.’ It’ll be something like, ‘Burn ban in effect.’ It’ll go on the website, Facebook, we can put signs out and spread the word.”The ordinance will be upheld by Fire Chief Jeremy Haydt. The burn ban violation fine is up to a maximum of $1,000, and in default of payment, imprisonment not to exceed 30 days.Haydt reported on Towamensing Volunteer Fire Company news:“We had a good month. For those that don’t know, the fire company hosted an open house and fire company picnic. It was done as a public relations event, not a fundraising event, though it did turn out very positive for the fire company,” Haydt said. “On behalf of the fire company, I’d like to thank the community, and the board of supervisors for their support with this event.”Unfortunately, before the open house, the company was using tanker pumper 932 to wash the parking lot and driveway areas when it had a failure.“It still can haul water. It still can act as a tanker. We just lost the capability of using it as a pumper,” Haydt said.The 30-year-old truck will need replacement equipment. Haydt’s research has shown that the pump and a transfer case must be replaced together, and the cost for transfer case parts alone is $15,000, not including labor.The truck will continue to be used while the company obtains estimates for equipment costs.Over the past few months, Towamensing’s Volunteer Fire Company roster on the operations side has nearly doubled in size. New purchases, including personal protective equipment, turnout equipment and forestry equipment are in the works to accommodate the increase in the company.In addition, Haydt announced that company member Bob O’Donnell is a new assistant fire chief.“We feel Bob brings a lot of knowledge and experience to the table, and we could definitely use that,” Haydt said.“Next Friday, the 21st, the fire company will be doing a fire prevention out here at the elementary school, going along with October being Fire Prevention month,” President Eric George said.Towamensing Volunteer Fire Company’s fundraising options, specifically the formerly problematic bingo, are still being considered. The fire company had discontinued bingo until finances were straightened out.“We haven’t decided on anything yet. We are looking to restart bingo at the first of year. We’re maybe looking into starting a breakfast, along with other fundraising ideas,” George said.George emphasized that the fundraising committee is looking into the matter, and that the reintroduction of bingo is a tentative matter.