Firefighters, Residents Call for PA Chief to be Reinstated Over Funeral Duty

Residents and firefighters packed the Slatington council's meeting room and hallways this week, calling for the council to reinstate their fire chief.

Slatington Fire Chief Keith Weaver was removed from his post last month after the council voted him out. That happened after he ignored their order to take the department's aerial ladder to a firefighter funeral in a nearby community.

Acting Fire Chief Jason Nicholas gave the board a petition with 18 signatures to reinstate Weaver, the Times News reported.

“I just hope you can reconsider. We do it for the love of protecting and serving,” Fountain Hill Fire Department Chief Dave Boehrer. Boeher is the chief who asked for the ladder truck to be used during the funeral for former fire Lt. Matthew Kuhns. 

“Matt’s wife wanted the arch flown so I contacted the department," Boeher continued. "I was in shock when I heard all this went down. I knew this area would be protected without the truck between Neffs and Slatedale departments. It’s tradition that the department hosting the funeral doesn’t use their own truck,” Boehrer said.

“The man’s been in it for 35 years," firefighter Michael Dempsey said. "He’s served his community.”

"We put in eight-hour days for training and controlled burns," Weaver said as he addressed he council, talking about the ladder being out of the community. "We’ve never jeopardized this community,” he said.

“It’s a brotherhood," Weaver added. "I just want to be reinstated so I can be with my guys. We are a well-oiled machine."

Nicholas said the department continues to operate, but supports the call to reinstate Weaver.

The board told attendees that they are considering the request.