No matter what the weather conditions are like outside, the Lehighton Fire Department always answers the call.

So naturally the department wasn't going to let a little rain ruin the dedication of the department's new $4.1 million fire station Friday night.More than 100 firefighters, family members and supporters filled the department's new five-bay facility on South Third Street to dedicate the building, as well as a new pumper truck and rescue boat."I do not come here for a truck dedication, or a building dedication - I come for the dedication of all the people around this room," said former state Rep. Keith McCall, who helped secure state funding for the project."When that bell sounds at 3 a.m. on a winter morning, they answer the call. That's dedication."The event marked the history of the department while looking toward its future. Firefighters marked the new facilities and equipment by honoring three former members who exemplified that dedication while serving the department's predecessors, Lehigh Fire Co. No. 1, and Engine Co. No. 2."This station is dedicated to all past present and future of fire personnel," Lehighton Mayor Tom Mase said.The new apparatus bay was named in honor of Chief John G. "Jack" Kuller Jr., who served as chief of the department for 15 years. Current chief Patrick Mriss said that Kuller was a driving force for the new station. His brother, Rev. Thomas Kuller, blessed the new building and equipment.The $4.1 million station provides an additional five bays the firefighters and apparatus, which had been crammed into two century-old buildings. It features a classroom, locker room and bathroom facilities for male and female fire fighters."The greatest benefit of this project is that the firefighters have a safer working environment," Lehighton borough manager Nicole Beckett said.A brand new fire truck was dedicated to Herman Solt, who built up the membership of Engine Co. No. 2 as chief during the 1970s.The 2015 KME Kovatch pumper was built in Nesquehoning. John J. Kovatch IV presented the company with a bell. He said that of the hundreds of KME employees who worked on the truck, 175 are Lehighton residents.The Rescue One Connector boat was dedicated to William "Billy" Beck, a firefighter and diver who was key to forming the department's water rescue team.Plans for the new fire house began in 2009, when a 12-member building committee started planning it. With McCall's assistance, the borough received a state grant worth $1.5 million. Sen. John Yudichak and Rep. Doyle Heffley helped secure another $475,000 in state funds.The project involved acquiring and demolishing three residential properties located along South Third Street between the borough's two historic fire stations.The new building manages to take design cues from those historic buildings. The design has already been recognized by the Fire Industry Education Resource Organization, as well as Firehouse magazine.The department will continue its celebration Sunday, with a parade and festival in the Community Grove at Seventh and Iron streets.