Mahoning Township residents attending the 75th anniversary celebration of the Mahoning Valley Fire Company on Friday night saw firsthand how dependent residents are on the volunteers.

During the program, firefighters were dispatched and had to respond to two separate incidents. Fortunately, neither was major.

A two-day celebration marked the anniversary this past weekend.

The main events occurred on Friday night with the dedication of a newly acquired firetruck, the official housing of the truck an apparatus parade and a formal anniversary program.

In addition, the annual Celebration of Community by the fire company was held on both days during which there was live music, free games for the children, giveaways, a basket raffle, food, refreshments and various vendors.

Each year the fire company holds its Celebration of Community as a way of saying “thanks” to the residents of Mahoning Township and the surrounding area for its continued support, said Jay Michalik, assistant fire chief.

The fire company recently purchased a 2019 Pierce rescue-pumper combination.

Rickey Frey, the longest active volunteer firefighter with the company who is still responding was given the honors of christening the new truck with a bottle of champagne. Michalik said Frey has been serving the fire department “for well over 40 years.”

Michalik served as the emcee for the program.

A history of the fire company was given by Jeff Miller, fire company president.

Miller said the impetus for the formation of the fire company in the township actually began in 1949 when a series of barn fires occurred. The prompted a “passing of the hat” around to local people for collecting money to purchase a fire truck and for the establishment of the fire department.

Miller said, “Our department was born June 4, 1951. It has evolved into a fully functional, self-efficient, highly trained, professional organization.”

He commentated on the apparatus the fire company owns and how it is equipped to handle virtually any type of emergency.

The number of calls has been increasing over the years. In 2018, the department responded to 127 calls. Each year that number has risen, with 210 calls handled in 2025.

Fire Chief Mark Ebbert told the gathering about the newest truck and how important it is for the department and the residents.

Proclamations were presented to the fire company by various federal, state, county and local representatives.

Michalik said, “The fire company was formed in 1951 through the passing of a hat. Everybody that was there put a few dollars in the hat to form a volunteer fire company. While passing a hat wouldn’t be feasible today, this Celebration of Community is our form of passing the hat.”

On Saturday, besides the block-party style activities, there was a 5K race and one mile fun walk as well as a cornhole competition which had several dozen competitors.

Among the vendors was the Parryville Fire Company, which had a food stand; crafters, the serving of food platters and displays by Lehighton Ambulance and the Lehigh Valley Hospital Center.

Children could don fire gear and participate in a drill of crawling through a large, pipe-like opening, hammering a wedged block loose and shooting water onto a simulated burning building.

There also were games for the children including ring toss and a roulette wheel, all free with prizes.

Michalik said the truck wasn’t dedicated to any specific individual. He said like other apparatus, “we dedicated it to the community that we serve.”