Derry Township firefighters update lighting gear with LED equipment

Derry Township firefighters will have a better view of the emergency situations they encounter after purchasing a new set of lights.

Chief Mark Piantine said Derry Township Volunteer Fire Department No. 1 of Bradenville was able to replace two failing tripod lights, upgrade others for its fleet of fire trucks and buy 23 Streamlight personal lights for firefighters with the help of a grant of a little more than $4,700 from Energy Transfer’s First Responder Fund. The department also purchased two new portable lights.

“They’re LED lights,” Piantine said. “They use less power but we get more light out of them. It gets us up to date.

“Equipment is only becoming more expensive, which puts a strain on all-volunteer departments like ours.”

He said the personal lights have adjustable heads and can be hung on each firefighter’s coat. The portable versions can unfold and lock onto a ladder.

A portion of Energy Transfer’s Mariner East 2 natural gas liquids pipeline passes through the township.

Through a competitive application process, the company previously awarded the local fire department a $12,500 grant in 2017, which helped with the purchase of a utility task vehicle and trailer. An additional $7,605 grant in 2020 allowed the volunteers to add a new skid unit, water tank, pump, hose, reel and rescue stretcher to the back of the vehicle.

“It is an honor to support the first responders in the areas where we work and operate,” Energy Transfer public affairs manager Chris Koop said in a press release.

The Derry Township fire department has responded to more than 530 calls so far in 2024. A recent brush fire was caused by a downed electrical line, Piantine said.

“Our township put a burning ban on, and people are listening,” he said.