Nancy Run Fire Co. Looks to Renovate Station

Bethlehem Township’s . on Monday night unveiled a $900,000 plan to renovate and expand its 50-year-old headquarters and fire station on Easton Avenue at Seventh Street.

Company representatives hope to achieve 501-C-3, tax-exempt non-profit status in the next month and then plan to fan out into the community to seek donations for the effort, said Tom Kocsis, a company volunteer who did most of the speaking during a presentation to the township commissioners.

The planned renovation would add 13,000 square feet of space to the building, which would expand its overnight quarters and provide room for more equipment, Kocsis said.

Though the company is staffed entirely with 40 volunteers, it runs 24-hours a day, seven days a week, and always has personnel available at the station to run to a call. In all, the company logged 20,000 volunteer hours and responded to 819 calls in 2010, Kocsis said.

In addition to providing coverage to the township, it also provides coverage in mutual aid agreements to nearby townships and the city of Bethlehem.

The company has occupied the same headquarters since 1961, a year in which it responded to 12 calls, Kocsis said.

The company decided to maintain its headquarters at its current location, rather than build anew, in part because the current station is centrally located in the township, Kocsis said. A new building would also be far more expensive to build.

Private businesses in the township have already begun to offer support to the project, Kocsis said. The company plans to raise much of the money needed through appeals to the township business community.

The company is seeking any backing the commissioners and township government can provide.

Commissioner Tom Nolan suggested applying for funds through the Northampton County , which was established to provide grants to municipalities from county proceeds from the . Nolan, who is a member of the authority board, said it has generally favorably viewed applications relating to public safety.