The Palmerton Fire Department has been recognized for its extraordinary efforts in logging innumerable hours to fighting brush fires this month.

Councilman Kris Hoffner at Thursday’s borough council meeting noted that over the last several days, 577 acres had burned on the Blue Mountain.

Hoffner said council felt it was only right to acknowledge the borough’s firefighters for their dedication to their craft.

“We wanted to see if there was anything we could do,” Hoffner said. “We wanted some type of (report) as to what your firefighters have contributed to that fire, as well as other brush fires.”

Borough fire Chief Jason Behler, who was among the 15 firefighters in attendance, noted that since the beginning of this month, the department had already fielded 13 calls and logged 830 hours including the brush fire on the Blue Mountain, as well as recent brush fires in Franklin Township and another one in Lehigh Township.

“A lot of these people, they have 40 hours alone just on the (last) weekend on the (Blue) Mountain,” Behler said. “I thought it was a great idea when Kris reached out.”

Behler added that a lot of the firefighters’ spouses came down to the station and helped them, and noted that the outpouring of support from the community has been overwhelming.

As part of that, he said there were cards that were signed by those who dropped off or donated supplies to the fire department, along with water, Gatorade and other items.

Behler said the department had so much that it donated the products it couldn’t use to the Palmerton Food Pantry.

“I’m very fortunate to be involved with this group of people,” he said. “I thank each and every one of them; they do a phenomenal job.”

Afterward, borough council gave members of the fire department a standing ovation.