It marked a new beginning for one organization, but the end of an era for another.

For members of the Lehighton Fire Department, feelings of excitement and jubilation filled the air Friday afternoon.

Firefighters made the trip to KME in Nesquehoning to take ownership of its brand-new 2022 KME 109 Aerial Cat ladder truck.

Lehighton Fire Chief Pat Mriss said the new ladder truck will replace its 1989 E1 ladder truck.

With the new truck, Mriss said the department’s fleet will consist of two engines, two rescues, two pickups and two boats, along with a Hazmat trailer.

Mriss said the committee was pleased with the professionalism KME exhibited throughout the entire process.

“The committee was very impressed with the workmanship,” Mriss said. “They really took pride with this vehicle, and really took pride in their work.”

Mriss said the department hopes its new truck can serve Lehighton Borough and the surrounding communities for 25-plus years.

He said the plan is to park the new truck in the vicinity of the existing fire truck and park them side by side for the time being to make the transition easier.

“I’d like to thank the committee, the borough and the citizens for supporting the department to be able to have something like this to be able to use for the community,” Mriss said.

Dozens of workers last Friday completed their final shift at KME in Nesquehoning.

That included wrapping up work on the final vehicle to come out of the facility - a 109-foot rear mount ladder truck for Lehighton Fire Department.

Mark Boyle, contract administrator for KME Fire Apparatus, said it was “an honor to work with local departments.”

“We built firetrucks for fire departments all over the country,” Boyle said.

“It’s an honor to work with people that you know.”

Jason Behler, sales application engineer for KME, said, “It’s bittersweet. It has been a dream job of mine ever since I was in high school.”

Behler, who serves as fire chief of the Palmerton Fire Department, said it’s exciting to know the firetruck will not only serve the Lehighton community, but also provide mutual aid to neighboring fire companies such as his.

“To be able to build a firetruck like this for a neighboring fire department that we have such close ties brings all the more meaning to it,” he said. “I couldn’t have picked a better group to go through this process with.”